Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mercredi 10 juin 2020
2 Dads Share What It Was Like to Have Genetically Tied Twins Using a Surrogate - It's Incredible
For Yan Dekel and his husband, Alex Maghen - who host Daddy Squared: The Gay Dads Podcast - welcoming twin boys via surrogacy four years ago has been the biggest blessing of their lives.
"Our kids were born when I was 47 years old, and we decided to look into surrogacy when I was around 45 or 44," Alex told POPSUGAR. "I had always wanted to have children, but obviously one of the big differences between being a gay couple and a straight couple is that many straight couples can have a bottle of wine at dinner and nine months later a child is born. For a gay couple, it's often a much more careful and thoughtful process."
Alex and Yan's reasoning for going the surrogacy route was straightforward: they wanted to have a genetic connection to their children. "Both Alex and I were very curious to see what our own genes would look like," Yan explained. "Part of my perception about having kids had a lot to do with the commitment I wanted to make to Alex. To me, my reason for wanting kids is very romantic. I wanted my genetics to be connected with Alex's forever so that if, God forbid, something happens between us, we'll always be together in a way."
"When the first child came out, we both burst out laughing because it was so obvious which kid had our DNA."
The pair enlisted the help of a surrogacy agency, which gave them access to a bank of women who were willing to donate their eggs. "We went through dozens of profiles and we came up with five finalists," Yan said. "Then we asked our closest friends and family to help us choose between the five. We ended up having three viable embryos: two male ones, which were given the quality grade of AA, and a girl one, which was graded BB. We froze them, and then waited to be matched with a surrogate. We were matched about four months after."
Although Yan and Alex didn't necessarily care about the sex of their children, they knew they wanted twins due to their age. Because of Yan and Alex's age, they wanted to try for two babies at once, and because they didn't care about their children's sex, they chose to implant the best-quality embryos. Having twins is considered to be a high-risk pregnancy, so representatives suggested trying for just one child at first. Set on having twins, they stuck to their original plan.
"During stressful experiences, it's easy to turn over and allow the experts to tell you what to do," Alex said. "And I think it's important to feel confident that what your heart desires is what you want to get, and go for it."
"There are ways to save money, but it's definitely going to cost a lot of money."
Their surrogate gave birth to biological half-brothers: one boy's DNA comes from Yan, while the other's comes from Alex. And although the couple didn't want to know which son took after which dad, they figured it out the second the babies were born with one look at their hair. "Right before we went into the delivery room, the doctor told us that she was capable of doing an instant genetic test to tell which one was which," Alex explained. "We immediately said no and that we didn't care, except when the first child came out, we both burst out laughing because it was so obvious which kid had our DNA."
For these dads, few things were more surprising than how much biology played a part in everything from their children's mannerisms to the types of music they like. "It's really an amazing sociological experiment," Alex said. "Our boys are 4 years old and they've been raised the same way, they've had the same home environment, attend the same school, and they eat the same food, yet one of them conducts himself so much like me, and one of them conducts himself so much like Yan."
Yan agreed: "Alex and I sometime joke that we cloned ourselves. It's amazing to see how much genes hold. It's not only that they physically resemble us, but their personalities do, too - including their tastes in food! What's been amazing to me is that Alex's biological son sometimes speaks in a heavy Philadelphian accent when he's upset. Neither Alex nor I have this accent, but Alex's mother does since his family is originally from Philadelphia!"
For parents considering surrogacy, the couple recommends that people weigh all their options before fully committing.
"There's a lot of research that you can and should do," Alex said. "It's also going to cost a lot of money. There are ways to save money, but it's definitely going to cost a lot of money, and that's something you have to be prepared for. In a cold, hard way of putting it, surrogacy is a lot like buying a house. It's a big expense. It's a big undertaking. It can be stressful. And I think that you need to go into it feeling confident that you know what you want and not allowing other people to tell you how to do it."
18 Comfy and Versatile Summer Finds We're Shopping at Everlane
If you're ready to spruce up your wardrobe this summer, you can start by investing in versatile pieces that are easy to wear. Shopping these smart finds makes it easy to get dressed everyday, plus you can pretty much mix and match them with anything in your closet. When it comes to basics, one place we love shopping is Everlane. The retailer carries a ton of solid basics that won't break the bank either.
Ahead, we curated a list our 18 favorites things that you can shop right now. Whether you're looking for a lightweight dress for hot days, a comfy jumpsuit, or cool new sandals, we've got you covered. Keep reading to shop our top picks ahead and snag the ones your closet is missing.
17 White Lace Dresses That Should Always Have a Place in Your Wardrobe
We're of the mind that you should stock your closet with classics, and that includes a white lace dress. It's such an iconic look, and one that you'll want to reach for time and time again. Now that summer is here, we want to embrace the season, and the weather, with a flowy dress, and there's nothing better than white lace. Whether you love a flirty minidress or prefer a major maxi, these 17 options will always look beautiful.
We're particularly obsessed with this high-neck lace minidress that's as romantic as can be, and a long button-up lace dress that just screams summer. Pair your pretty picks with strappy sandals for a feminine look, or if you feel like you want to toughen them up a bit, grab a belt and a pair of white sneakers. Just keep reading to shop our selects.
Gadgets and Gizmos Galore: 100+ Cool Tech Gifts to Give to the Men in Your Life
It doesn't matter whether he's your boyfriend, brother, dad, or grandfather, shopping for gifts for men who already have their dens decked out with every tech toy imaginable is tough. They love to try out the newest gadgets, leaving gift-giving holidays like Valentines Day, Father's Day, and birthdays hard to navigate. We've put together a shopping guide with the best gifts of 2020 for the guys who have it all and are always looking for more of the coolest high-tech gizmos out there. From gadgets that will make life easier to some of the hottest products yet, these cool gifts will make any tech-savvy guy geek out.
- Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes, Tara Block, and Lauren Harano
Related: 15 Perfect Gifts For Dads This Father's Day That All Revolve Around Food
This Spoken Word Poem About White Privilege Should Be Required Listening
Writer and spoken word artist Kyla Jenee Lacey shared a poem on her YouTube channel on May 31 that perfectly puts white privilege into perspective. The heartbreaking poem, titled "White Privilege," was originally written in 2014 and takes a deep and powerful look into the injustices faced by the Black community for over 400 years, touching on key events throughout history that have perpetuated the societal imbalance still in place today.
"I grew up with this kind of thinly-veiled racism. It wasn't necessarily overt, but it definitely wasn't quiet either."
The poem calls out the privileges bestowed upon those with lighter skin and the injustices thrust upon members of the Black community. As a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement, the opening clip shows a graphic listing the names of hundreds of Black men and women who lost their lives in instances of police brutality. "A lot of times, I think, people have a hard time accepting certain things as racist because they know that they've done those things," Lacey told POPSUGAR. "Nobody wants to look like the bad guy. Nobody wants to look like the monster under the bed."
Lacey's poem has gone viral several times since she first performed it at the National Poetry Slam in Decatur, GA in 2016, and it gained even more popularity after she performed it at the Write About Now (WAN) Poetry slam in Houston in 2017. The poem attracted anger-fueled criticism and hateful comments in the past, but more recently, it has had the intended effect of sparking a conversation about what it really means to have white privilege. "I think that a lot of people think that history exists in a vacuum . . . that everything just is what it is and there aren't centuries and generations that have caused things to happen," Lacey added. "I grew up with this kind of thinly-veiled racism. It wasn't necessarily overt, but it definitely wasn't quiet either."
"[The poem] is also completely relevant over and over again," she said. "I would way prefer that the poem not be relevant than it is because I was pissed when I wrote it . . . If I could live in a world where I wouldn't have to write things like that, that would be way better for me in the long run." Watch Lacey read the full spoken word poem here, and check out this list of political and civic actions you can take to fight racial injustice right now.
Keke Palmer Calls For Change in America: "I Have Waited For a Revolution"
Keke Palmer is continuing to use her platform to call for change amid the ongoing protests against racial injustice and police brutality. After the 26-year-old actress asked the National Guard troops to join her in marching at a recent demonstration, Keke penned a guest column for Variety, explaining what that interaction was like for her and why the Black Lives Matter movement is so important.
"I like following rules and doing what I'm told. As a kid, these rules stick with you. But even at a young age, I was taught to question the things that didn't feel right to me," she began in the column, which was published on Tuesday. "Sometimes, going against authority is the only remedy for change, especially when we have seen, too often, those authority figures step over the line. So where do you draw the line? How do you know to draw the line? Is there a line?"
"We are now being called to challenge the rules and to challenge the character of those making them."
Keke explained that she joined the recent protests in Los Angeles "to bring as much awareness as we can to the injustices in America and fight against white supremacy and what it does to our nation." "I spoke with National Guardsmen who were preventing us from marching past a certain point and challenged them to march with us. In my wildest dreams, they would all march with us without risk of punishment," she said. Even though the guards didn't march with her, they did kneel, however, that wasn't enough for Keke. "Kneeling has become a mockery of sorts," she added. "Kneeling on George Floyd's neck is what killed him. Now we see police officers kneeling and then, moments later, attacking peaceful protesters. At this point, the kneeling has no meaning."
The actress then emphasized that a revolution is needed in America to dismantle and rebuild the current systems. "We may not all share in the Black experience of this, but I can guarantee you, almost everyone in this country has been oppressed in some form or another," Keke explained. "I have waited for a revolution, I believe, my entire life . . . I truly believe that everything that has led us to this moment has prepared us for a revolution and a revelation: the dismantling and rebuilding of a system that is better, more equitable and representative of the people it claims to represent."
She ended her guest column with an important message: "So while it may be scary, we were born for this: we were born to be leaders and grow out of just 'following rules' because following rules isn't enough. We are now being called to challenge the rules and to challenge the character of those making them."
Read Keke's guest column in full on Variety.
This Spoken Word Poem About White Privilege Should Be Required Listening
Writer and spoken word artist Kyla Jenee Lacey shared a poem on her YouTube channel on May 31 that perfectly puts white privilege into perspective. The heartbreaking poem, titled "White Privilege," was originally written in 2014 and takes a deep and powerful look into the injustices faced by the Black community for over 400 years, touching on key events throughout history that have perpetuated the societal imbalance still in place today.
"I grew up with this kind of thinly-veiled racism. It wasn't necessarily overt, but it definitely wasn't quiet either."
The poem calls out the privileges bestowed upon those with lighter skin and the injustices thrust upon members of the Black community. As a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement, the opening clip shows a graphic listing the names of hundreds of Black men and women who lost their lives in instances of police brutality. "A lot of times, I think, people have a hard time accepting certain things as racist because they know that they've done those things," Lacey told POPSUGAR. "Nobody wants to look like the bad guy. Nobody wants to look like the monster under the bed."
Lacey's poem has gone viral several times since she first performed it at the National Poetry Slam in Decatur, GA in 2016, and it gained even more popularity after she performed it at the Write About Now (WAN) Poetry slam in Houston in 2017. The poem attracted anger-fueled criticism and hateful comments in the past, but more recently, it has had the intended effect of sparking a conversation about what it really means to have white privilege. "I think that a lot of people think that history exists in a vacuum . . . that everything just is what it is and there aren't centuries and generations that have caused things to happen," Lacey added. "I grew up with this kind of thinly-veiled racism. It wasn't necessarily overt, but it definitely wasn't quiet either."
"[The poem] is also completely relevant over and over again," she said. "I would way prefer that the poem not be relevant than it is because I was pissed when I wrote it . . . If I could live in a world where I wouldn't have to write things like that, that would be way better for me in the long run." Watch Lacey read the full spoken word poem here, and check out this list of political and civic actions you can take to fight racial injustice right now.
Need a Refresher on Season 1 of The Politician? We've Got You
Season two of The Politician is premiering on June 19, and we couldn't be more thrilled. After the ridiculous events of season one - which included a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a school production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, and an intense school election complete with the scandal of Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) keeping Infinity's (Zoey Deutch) lack of cancer a secret - it's wild to think that Ryan Murphy may just top it with the outlandish premise of season two. In case you're wondering what that is, Payton is running for New York state senate at the ripe old age of 22. Now if you don't have time to binge the first season before the second comes out, below is a refresher of what happened to all your favorite characters at the end of season one.
Hot Take: 13 Reasons Why Should Have Ended (Forever) After Its First Season
I read Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why not long after it was originally published in 2007. The story about a teenage girl who commits suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes with her 13 reasons for taking her life, was a very heavy one, but one that I felt OK reading. I was in my early 20s at the time, older than the main character Hannah Baker, but I couldn't help but feel her pain of wanting to make friends and fall in love and be normal, only to have things constantly knock her down. It was a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end, and I was curious to see how Netflix would handle the adaptation when the story first dropped on the streamer in 2017.
Katherine Langford took on the role of Hannah and did her justice. Alongside Dylan Minnette as the other main character Clay Jensen, Langford made me feel Hannah's pain in a way that you can't always get in a book. And though the show was incredibly graphic - including rape and suicide in great detail - it did the book justice. It wasn't a show that was for everyone, and mental health professionals weighed in on the show and found it to be problematic for some audiences. A few months after it originally aired, the suicide scene was edited out and a warning was added to episodes to guide people on getting help if they were struggling themselves.
That's the first reason this show shouldn't have gone past the first season.
"It became a show that was reliant on shock value, cramming in every possible thing that would warrant a warning before the show."
As much as I liked the show, I didn't need the story to continue past the book. The book had a clear ending, and future seasons took on a life of their own. Rather than allow the show to end with all of Hannah's reasons being dealt with and her story being put to rest, the show left season one open ended with so many things that never even happened in the book - like Alex Standall potentially killing himself - making future seasons a huge departure from the story.
That's the second reason the show shouldn't have gone past the first season.
What's really unfortunate about seasons two, three, and four of 13 Reasons Why is that the students become more obnoxious, the crimes become more severe, the show becomes more graphic. And yet through it all, it's forgettable. I couldn't even tell you what happens in season two, other than the trial over Hannah's life and death and Bryce Walker's responsibility in all of it. The third season took yet another detour by focusing all its energy on Bryce and sort of trying to redeem him despite the fact that he rapes people and is an absolute assh*le?!
After the absolute mess of the third season, there really, really shouldn't have been a fourth season. But alas, a fourth season we did get. Season four is just plain weird. Of the 10 episodes, I would say the first seven or eight feel like a straight-up horror movie. From the creepy music to horror-like cinematography and Clay's mental instability, it feels like you're living inside his head as he starts to break down.
It feels absolutely nothing like where the show started in 2017 and with Asher's book in 2007. It became a show that was reliant on shock value, cramming in every possible thing that would warrant a warning before the show. In season four alone, we had to deal with racism, police brutality, a school shooting, mental instability, and an AIDS-related death. And I know these things are real-world problems, but to throw them all into one singular season of a show after already having dealt with suicide, rape, murder, and excessive underage drinking and drug use just feels like too much.
As the show progressed and moved farther and farther away from the original story, it made me like the first season less because it felt tainted. I had similar feelings about Big Little Lies when the show got a second season that was far outside the book. In a similar fashion, the second season of that show tanked what was an incredibly well-done first season, but at least those showrunners didn't pursue further seasons. Netflix, on the other hand, kept stringing viewers along for more seasons of 13 Reasons Why, and now as a viewer, I'm so far outside the heart-wrenching original story that I'm just angry-watching the show to find out how it ends so I can check off a box in my head.
I went into the fourth season with low expectations after seasons two and three, which admittedly made me despise it less than I expected, and though there were a few moments that I liked, I was just downright mad when Justin Foley was killed off in the end. Netflix spent time over the past seasons building him back up into a respectable teenager on the verge of going to college and making something of himself, despite having a troubled upbringing and struggling to just make it through a day, only to have him die from AIDS-related complications in the end.
That ending was the nail in the coffin for me that this show absolutely and unequivocally should have ended after season one.
The 54 Coolest Things to Shop at Wayfair - All Under $100
If you're feeling like your home could use a little pick-me-up, shopping on a budget is the best way to start. Whether its investing in new pillows or handy organizers, simply adding these finds can turn any room around. Not sure where to start? Well we did the hard work for you and shopped on Wayfair. The site carries tons of smart pieces that won't break the bank either.
Ahead, you can browse our list of over 50 cool finds that'll no doubt bring some joy into your home. Whether you're on the hunt for kitchen gadgets or chic decor, be prepared to want it all. The best part: everything costs less than $100, so maybe you can snag more than one thing. Keep reading to shop it all and refresh your home.
mardi 9 juin 2020
A Simple Method For Turning Hot Tea to Iced Tea
While buying bottled ice tea is a viable option, it's more fun and economical to make use of the wide varieties of tea you probably already own like chai, jasmine, darjeeling, and oolong. The flavor options are limitless, and you'll notice that most teas have a slightly more robust flavor when chilled.
To transform your hot tea collection into refreshing iced tea, brew the tea as usual, then chill it in the fridge. For every cup of filtered water, use one teabag (or two teaspoons loose-leaf) of any black, green, white, or herbal tea variety. Remove the teabags after three to five minutes of brewing, and allow the tea to come to room temperature before popping it in the fridge.
For a faster cup of iced tea, make a "condensed" tea by brewing two or three teabags per cup of filtered water. Then pour the hot tea directly over ice. If you don't even want to mess with hot water, there's also a way to cold-brew tea! Once you've made your unsweetened iced tea, it will generally last about three days in the fridge - that is, if you don't drink it before then!
Olympian Tianna Bartoletta on the Jarring Reality of Being a Black Athlete on Team USA
Three-time gold medalist Tianna Bartoletta is using her platform to talk about the reality of being a Black Olympian on Team USA. In an interview with The Irish Times, the reigning Olympic long jump champion and two-time 400m relay gold medalist spoke powerfully about the dichotomy between achieving the pinnacle of success in her sport and going home to face racism from the very country she represents.
"When we get [to the Olympics], we really do feel like we are wearing the shield for our country," Bartoletta said. She described the buildup to the Games every four years and the feeling of solidarity and pride that athletes absorb from the American audience back home. "We want to bring that medal home for our countrymen and we know that they'll be proud of us when we win.
"But Black athletes also know that that is temporary," she continued. "So the moment that the uniform comes off . . . after you've gotten your medal, you become Black in America again."
For Bartoletta, that means creating strategies to keep her safe during everyday aspects of her work, like training runs. "When I'm approaching someone out on a run, I go through three steps," she said. "I announce my presence – big smile, yell hello. I talk about the weather – great day for a run! And I run away. That, hopefully for me, makes that exchange with that person only interpretable in one way. As in, 'Oh, a really friendly black girl.'" She can't afford to zone out "and maybe have an aggressive look on my face," she said. "I have all of these things that I am thinking about when I approach people, things that when you're at home you don't have to worry about. But when you walk out that front door, you know that this is who I need to be in this world."
Bartoletta also described the scene that takes place – and the radical shift that occurs - after telling someone she's an Olympic gold medalist. "People find out what you've accomplished and you see in that moment the behavior change," she said. "Because now you have value . . . Not only have you been to the Olympics, which is incredible by itself you've got three gold medals? Oh my gosh. But in the conversation before any of that came out, it was very different."
For athletes that exist at this intersection, Bartoletta said it's important to remember "that it's not separate from you." Being Black in America is "a part of your story and your journey. And if you choose to, you are able to weave what it is you do as an athlete into what it is you care about as a human."
If You're Confused About What Defunding the Police Means, Allow John Oliver to Explain
All over the country, we're seeing signs at protests demanding justice for police brutality and pressure on social media calling to defund the police. And while it might sound like a radical or confusing concept to some, on Sunday's Last Week Tonight segment, John Oliver clearly explained what defunding the police really means and why it is the next step to moving forward.
"It's about moving away from a narrow conception of public safety that relies on policing and punishment, and investing in a community's actual safety."
"Defunding the police absolutely does not mean that we eliminate all cops and just succumb to the Purge," Oliver said. "Instead, it's about moving away from a narrow conception of public safety that relies on policing and punishment, and investing in a community's actual safety. . . like stable housing, mental health services, and community organizations."
Earlier in the segment, Oliver explained that after cutting spending on key services in many communities, the police are the only group of power left to handle almost any issue people have. He referenced the former Dallas police chief, who admitted in a briefing back in 2016 that "we're asking cops to do too much in the country" and "every societal failure [is] put on the cops to solve."
By no longer being reliant on the police for every aspect of public safety, Oliver said the role of police can "significantly shrink," because cops won't have to respond to mental health calls, dealing with young people in schools, or any other situation where force isn't necessary. Moreover, he passionately argues for defunding the police as its structure is intentionally built on systemic racism, and thus needs to be intentionally dismantled and replaced. "For much of US history, law enforcement meant enforcing laws that were explicitly designed to subjugate Black people," he explained.
Oliver also addressed why demanding for police reform won't solve the problem, as incremental reforms like the wider use of body cameras and implicit bias training were clearly not enough to eliminate racially motivated police violence. "I'm not saying that we shouldn't still try them, but in many cases, you are contending with an entrenched police culture resistant to any effort to compel reform," he said. "That is why many are advocating that we rethink police from the ground up."
He concluded the segment emphasizing the need for all of us to fight for change and continue to do so over a long period of time. "Black communities have had to be perpetual activists, while also routinely being disenfranchised, and it is long past time that the rest of us join to make sure our voices are heard and acted upon, 'cause it's going to be far too easy for nothing to meaningfully change here."
While Oliver discussed the concept of defunding the police around the 25-minute mark, the entire segment is worth a watch, as he answered three basic questions to fully understand the reason for this demand: how we got to this point, what the obstacles to reform have been historically, and how we can keep moving forward. Check out the full video above.
These 14-Year-Old Ballerinas Took a Stand For Black Lives to Spark a "Change of Heart"
Ava Holloway and Kennedy George are 14-year-old ballet dancers at the Central Virginia Dance Academy, and they're using their love for dance to spread a powerful message about the importance of Black lives. Following the announcement on June 4 that the Robert E. Lee statue located in Charlottesville, VA will be removed, Holloway and her fellow dancers took the historic opportunity to pose in front of the now grafitti-covered statue of the Confederate soldier before its official removal. The resulting photos, taken by photographer Marcus Ingram and George's mother Chris, share a powerful message of hope for the future.
"The inspiration was to say goodbye to the past without forgetting it," Holloway told POPSUGAR. "Ballet is one of the hardest types of dance; we are going through a very hard time. I connected a time full of hate with something that gives me so much joy . . . What better way to bring the best out of something by doing what you love?"
"I just hope someone that had a different opinion relates to the picture and has a change of heart."
The long-overdue removal of the Confederate statue comes after an impassioned week of protests across the country in support of the Black community and the eradication of racial injustice. "It's time to acknowledge the reality of institutional racism, even if you can't see it," Northam said in his public address. "Today, Virginia is home to more Confederate commemorations than any other state . . . The statue of Robert E. Lee is the most prominent . . . Yes, that statue has been there for a long time. But it was wrong then, and it is wrong now. So, we're taking it down."
In celebration of the statue coming down, Holloway and her friends hope to remind others of the past and inspire the people of today to be better than their ancestors. From left to right, the above photo features Kennedy George, Sophia Chambliss, Brandee Greene, Shania Gordon, and Ava Holloway. "We are so grateful for everyone that reposted us and didn't think that it would get nearly as much attention as it is receiving!" said Gordon.
As for the message she hopes these photos will send, Holloway said, "I hope people reconsider their thinking . . . I just hope someone that had a different opinion relates to the picture and has a change of heart." See more photos of the group's powerful photo shoot ahead.
It's Been 18 Years and the Bachelor Franchise Hasn't Done Much to Improve Its Diversity Issue
Chris Harrison and Rachel Lindsay at season 24's Women Tell All special.
When you're a lover of dating shows who also happens to be Black, you come to expect certain things when watching a show like The Bachelor. You may hedge bets on how far Black contestants will make it because, unless the bachelor or bachelorette is notably interested in them, it's unlikely they'll get very far. You wonder how long it will take for them to be labeled "aggressive" or spotlighted as a villain for being outspoken. You also cautiously scroll through the #BachelorNation tag on Twitter fearing that other fans of the show will reveal their uglier sides when it comes to contestants that look more like you than they're used to.
That's the sad reality for fans of color when it comes to enjoying Bachelor shows, and former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay is pretty damn tired of it. "If we're going around talking about Black Lives Matter and what's important and how we need systemic change . . . well then let's talk about systemic change when it comes to The Bachelor. We got to change some things there, too," Lindsay said during an AfterBuzz TV Reality TV interview on June 5.
"I ultimately decided to be the Bachelorette because I knew this opportunity was bigger than me."
The sole Black lead in the franchise's 18-year history, Lindsay has always been vocal about her thoughts on the show, its lack of diversity, and how its carried on since her season. "When I was asked to be the Bachelorette, I knew this was asking something completely different from me. I ultimately decided to be the Bachelorette because I knew this opportunity was bigger than me," she wrote in her blog on Monday morning. "I knew that I wanted to present myself to an audience that had not seen a lead of color in this role. I knew that I wanted to be a trailblazer in this franchise to diversify the lead role, to diversify the contestants trying out and casted for the show, and to diversify the audience watching this show."
Which she definitely did - Lindsay's season notably had more Black and brown contestants than we've ever seen, and it was a great insight into dating as a Black woman. But three years after her season, nothing has changed. Though an uptick in diverse contestants has been seen in recent seasons, the franchise has still only ever had two Latinx leads: American-born Venezuelan former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavis and half-Cuban pilot Peter Weber. And the contestants who nab that final rose, whether the leads are white or not, have been predominantly white.
Both Lindsay and former fan-favorite Bachelorette contestant Mike Johnson have raised similar concerns when it comes to how ABC sustains that lack of diversity by selecting similar people every season. When Johnson was passed over in favor of Weber to be season 24's Bachelor, he congratulated the other man and later pointed out in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that the choice of lead typically determines the contestants of the season. "If Peter likes one thing - not saying what he does like and he doesn't like - but if he likes Caucasian women for example, then there may be a higher percentage of it being a Caucasian bachelorette," he said.
Historically speaking, that's exactly what's been happening. Lindsay spoke to that in her blog post, writing, "Yes, more diverse contestants do appear on the show now, but is the lead truly interested and open to dating outside of their race? It is a naive expectation to believe that leads will authentically start an interracial relationship for the first time on national television."
She added, "The sad reality is that people of color become placeholders as the token person of color to add some flavor to the second half of the season."
Peter Weber with Natasha Parker, who finished season 24 in the top five.
Catherine Giudici, who appeared on the 17th season of The Bachelor and married lead Sean Lowe, echoed those thoughts in a June 7 Instagram post looking back on her time on the show. "When I was originally cast, I was very flattered but somewhat grounded by the fact that I would be one of the faces that represented people of color. I knew that one of the reasons I was probably chosen was because I was Filipino," she shared in the post. "I counted myself out to be his fiancée because of what I assumed Sean liked. I thought I was there just to check a box, but I ended up with so much more."
Giudici goes on to note that when she opened herself to the process, she was able to connect with Lowe and her experience ended up giving her more than she could've ever imagined, including "getting to represent a mixed race community." The pair have since gotten married and are the proud parents of three children.
While it's great that Giudici found her happily ever after, other people can't do the same if they're never allowed to get their foot in the door. This is why Lindsay isn't leaving things to chance - she's provided the franchise with five actionable steps to get them on the right path. "1. Cast leads that are truly interested in dating outside of their race; 2. Stop making excuses for the lack of diversity and take action to rectify the problem; 3. Diversify the producers on the show to make your contestants of color feel more comfortable; and 4. Stop creating problematic story lines [sic] for people of color."
And last but certainly not least, the former bachelorette called for the franchise to "make a statement acknowledging their systemic racism." "The system is not designed for people of color," she added. "This is not a shocking or groundbreaking statement when the creator of the show admitted that my season's lower ratings 'revealed something about our fans' and furthermore concluded that it was 'incredibly disturbing in a Trumpish kind of way.'"
"The system is not designed for people of color."
Lindsay ended her post by saying that only time will tell how production will respond to her comments, but it's obvious that she isn't the only one demanding change. Many fans have been clamoring for the same changes, especially as white contestants continue to get exposed for being racist, bigoted, or problematic in a plethora of other ways. Lee Garrett was exposed for tweeting a string of racist and sexist remarks (during the season with the first Black lead!), Garrett Yrigoyen "liked" social media posts that mocked feminists and transgender people and then went on to be selected by Bachelorette Becca Kufrin as her winner, and Hannah Brown recently faced backlash after singing the N-word while learning a TikTok dance.
It's obvious that the franchise needs to invest in some better background checks and diversify their cast pools enough to counter their dirty past. Hopefully sooner rather than later - because we're getting tired of waiting for them to do better.
Bryce Dallas Howard Wishes People Watched These Movies and Shows, Instead of The Help
Bryce Dallas Howard is aware that The Help is the most-watched movie on Netflix, and although she had plenty of good experiences creating it, she wants to recommend a few more educational films and shows for your watchlist. The actress shared her thoughts on Instagram on Monday, after her 2011 movie topped Netflix's charts amid racial justice protests worldwide.
"I'm so grateful for the exquisite friendships that came from that film -- our bond is something I treasure deeply and will last a lifetime," Howard wrote. "That being said, The Help is a fictional story told through the perspective of a white character and was created by predominantly white storytellers. We can all go further."
"Stories are a gateway to radical empathy and the greatest ones are catalysts for action," she continued. She recommends that those "seeking ways to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, lynchings, segregation, Jim Crow, and all the ways in which those have an impact on us today" watch something from her "noncomprehensive" list instead. She chose "powerful, essential, masterful films and shows that center Black lives, stories, creators, and/or performers" and asked commenters to recommend their own picks as well. Here's Howard's list, plus a few commenter-approved watches:
Related: Warner Bros. Offers a Powerful Lesson in Systemic Racism With Free Just Mercy Rentals
- 13th
- Eyes on the Prize
- I am Not Your Negro
- Just Mercy
- Malcolm X
- Say Her Name: The Life And Death of Sandra Bland
- Selma
- Watchmen
- When They See Us
- The Hate U Give
- Do the Right Thing
- True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight For Equality
- Roots
Breaking Away From the Imminent Racism of My Latin American Upbringing
Growing up in Dominican Republic, I heard a lot of comments that were racist, but I didn't realize it at the time. Things like "tienes que mejorar la raza" ("you have to improve the race," usually by marrying someone white), or "péinate ese pajón" ("brush that mop," referring to unruly hair), were everyday phrases I took very lightly and even laughed along with.
I also heard "te vas a poner negra" ("you're going to turn Black") at the beach or pool after I'd been lying under the sun for a while, and I'm pretty sure I said it to family and friends too, como un relajo. Another popular one was "yo no quiero hacer moñitos" when talking about future children, referring to someone not wanting to braid or twist their kid's hair - meaning that they'd prefer their daughters in particular to have straight hair.
There was - and still is - an unspoken aversion to anything black in Dominican culture: hair, features, music, dance, and even fashion.
This blanqueamiento, or whitening, comes from our colonial history. Dr. Griselda Rodriguez-Solomon, a sociology professor with a specialization in Latino studies, told HipLatina in an interview that Europeans in power understood they had to create structures to keep whiteness on top. They did that with everything from religion (centering it around a white, male god) to education, erasing our African and indigenous history.
This sentiment has prevailed and evolved in Dominican culture, to the point where we equate Black with poor, uneducated, and often, criminal. It's like we learned about our African heritage in school but ignored it in real life as if it was a shameful secret we had to keep. The worst part is that during my childhood, it seemed as if everyone - including me - thought this was OK.
It took a lot of learning and growing on my part to start breaking away from racism and harmful patterns. One of the first events that started changing my perception was meeting a new Black student at my school, which was predominantly white at that time. She was brilliant, kind, and loving, and it didn't take me long to realize I wanted to be like her.
"It's like we learned about our African heritage in school but ignored it in real life, as if it was a shameful secret we had to keep."
I started questioning a lot of the misconceptions I had grown up used to, and they became more uncomfortable to fathom. My college experience was more diverse, but it wasn't until I moved to New York City that I understood the racial charge of the everyday phrases I thought were funny. I'd explain Dominican slang or expressions to people I'd befriend, and they'd be so patient with me, understanding these comments were coming from an ignorant place, and my new friends would explain why these expressions weren't appropriate. I began listening, opening my eyes, and understanding, but I was also learning to speak up, especially within the circles where I was the most comfortable.
Luckily for me, my siblings were also going through their own awakening, and when we all got together as a family, we were comfortable enough to point out problematic behavior among our relatives and explain why it wasn't OK. Our parents raised us to be loving and accepting human beings capable of thinking critically and objectively, and they are this way themselves too. But they sometimes fall victim to their environment, which is why a lot of conversations regarding race and misconceptions have taken place in our house.
Now, given the current events in this country, these conversations are also happening in a lot of Latinx homes. While I can only speak from my experience as a Dominican, I've heard so many Latinx friends share how racism looks in their countries, so I know this is a widespread problem across our community as well.
It is our responsibility to educate our parents, tías y tíos, abuelos and abuelas, and any other person in our environment who still doesn't get why these behaviors and attitudes are an issue. We can start by calling out the racially charged comments that they think are harmless. Let's not bite our tongues and ignore them. Explain why we should eliminate them from our vocabulary.
We should read about and highlight all the contributions Black Latinx have made to our culture, like José Celso Barbosa, one of the first Puerto Ricans and persons of African descent to receive a medical degree in the US; Gwen Ifill, who championed diversity in journalism; Felipe Luciano, who founded the Young Lords New York Branch, an activist group focused on the liberation of oppressed communities; and historian Arturo Schomburg, who raised awareness for the African Diaspora.
We also need to bring visibility to the Black Latinx doing the work now, whether that is by promoting their businesses on social media and becoming their clients, by talking about them and recommending their services, or by supporting their causes, attending their events, and showing up for them.
However, the support shouldn't end there. It is imperative that we contribute to organizations and encourage activists that fight anti-Blackness, as well as back up policy changes that could help combat structural racism in policing. Let's remember that fighting against that internalized anti-Blackness is an ongoing process. We're never done learning and we should never stop questioning our assumptions.
Olympian Tianna Bartoletta on the Jarring Reality of Being a Black Athlete on Team USA
Three-time gold medalist Tianna Bartoletta is using her platform to talk about the reality of being a Black Olympian on Team USA. In an interview with The Irish Times, the reigning Olympic long jump champion and two-time 400m relay gold medalist spoke powerfully about the dichotomy between achieving the pinnacle of success in her sport and going home to face racism from the very country she represents.
"When we get [to the Olympics], we really do feel like we are wearing the shield for our country," Bartoletta said. She described the buildup to the Games every four years and the feeling of solidarity and pride that athletes absorb from the American audience back home. "We want to bring that medal home for our countrymen and we know that they'll be proud of us when we win.
"But Black athletes also know that that is temporary," she continued. "So the moment that the uniform comes off . . . after you've gotten your medal, you become Black in America again."
For Bartoletta, that means creating strategies to keep her safe during everyday aspects of her work, like training runs. "When I'm approaching someone out on a run, I go through three steps," she said. "I announce my presence – big smile, yell hello. I talk about the weather – great day for a run! And I run away. That, hopefully for me, makes that exchange with that person only interpretable in one way. As in, 'Oh, a really friendly black girl.'" She can't afford to zone out "and maybe have an aggressive look on my face," she said. "I have all of these things that I am thinking about when I approach people, things that when you're at home you don't have to worry about. But when you walk out that front door, you know that this is who I need to be in this world."
Bartoletta also described the scene that takes place – and the radical shift that occurs - after telling someone she's an Olympic gold medalist. "People find out what you've accomplished and you see in that moment the behavior change," she said. "Because now you have value . . . Not only have you been to the Olympics, which is incredible by itself you've got three gold medals? Oh my gosh. But in the conversation before any of that came out, it was very different."
For athletes that exist at this intersection, Bartoletta said it's important to remember "that it's not separate from you." Being Black in America is "a part of your story and your journey. And if you choose to, you are able to weave what it is you do as an athlete into what it is you care about as a human."
A Simple Method For Turning Hot Tea to Iced Tea
While buying bottled ice tea is a viable option, it's more fun and economical to make use of the wide varieties of tea you probably already own like chai, jasmine, darjeeling, and oolong. The flavor options are limitless, and you'll notice that most teas have a slightly more robust flavor when chilled.
To transform your hot tea collection into refreshing iced tea, brew the tea as usual, then chill it in the fridge. For every cup of filtered water, use one teabag (or two teaspoons loose-leaf) of any black, green, white, or herbal tea variety. Remove the teabags after three to five minutes of brewing, and allow the tea to come to room temperature before popping it in the fridge.
For a faster cup of iced tea, make a "condensed" tea by brewing two or three teabags per cup of filtered water. Then pour the hot tea directly over ice. If you don't even want to mess with hot water, there's also a way to cold-brew tea! Once you've made your unsweetened iced tea, it will generally last about three days in the fridge - that is, if you don't drink it before then!
It's Been 18 Years and the Bachelor Franchise Hasn't Done Much to Improve Its Diversity Issue
Chris Harrison and Rachel Lindsay at season 24's Women Tell All special.
When you're a lover of dating shows who also happens to be Black, you come to expect certain things when watching a show like The Bachelor. You may hedge bets on how far Black contestants will make it because, unless the bachelor or bachelorette is notably interested in them, it's unlikely they'll get very far. You wonder how long it will take for them to be labeled "aggressive" or spotlighted as a villain for being outspoken. You also cautiously scroll through the #BachelorNation tag on Twitter fearing that other fans of the show will reveal their uglier sides when it comes to contestants that look more like you than they're used to.
That's the sad reality for fans of color when it comes to enjoying Bachelor shows, and former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay is pretty damn tired of it. "If we're going around talking about Black Lives Matter and what's important and how we need systemic change . . . well then let's talk about systemic change when it comes to The Bachelor. We got to change some things there, too," Lindsay said during an AfterBuzz TV Reality TV interview on June 5.
"I ultimately decided to be the Bachelorette because I knew this opportunity was bigger than me."
The sole Black lead in the franchise's 18-year history, Lindsay has always been vocal about her thoughts on the show, its lack of diversity, and how its carried on since her season. "When I was asked to be the Bachelorette, I knew this was asking something completely different from me. I ultimately decided to be the Bachelorette because I knew this opportunity was bigger than me," she wrote in her blog on Monday morning. "I knew that I wanted to present myself to an audience that had not seen a lead of color in this role. I knew that I wanted to be a trailblazer in this franchise to diversify the lead role, to diversify the contestants trying out and casted for the show, and to diversify the audience watching this show."
Which she definitely did - Lindsay's season notably had more Black and brown contestants than we've ever seen, and it was a great insight into dating as a Black woman. But three years after her season, nothing has changed. Though an uptick in diverse contestants has been seen in recent seasons, the franchise has still only ever had two Latinx leads: American-born Venezuelan former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavis and half-Cuban pilot Peter Weber. And the contestants who nab that final rose, whether the leads are white or not, have been predominantly white.
Both Lindsay and former fan-favorite Bachelorette contestant Mike Johnson have raised similar concerns when it comes to how ABC sustains that lack of diversity by selecting similar people every season. When Johnson was passed over in favor of Weber to be season 24's Bachelor, he congratulated the other man but noted that the franchise should be looking beyond just white and Black when it came to their leads and contestants. He pointed out that the choice of lead typically determines the contestants of the season, saying in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that "if Peter likes one thing - not saying what he does like and he doesn't like - but if he likes Caucasian women for example, then there may be a higher percentage of it being a Caucasian bachelorette."
Historically speaking, that's exactly what's been happening. Lindsay spoke to that in her blog post, writing, "Yes, more diverse contestants do appear on the show now, but is the lead truly interested and open to dating outside of their race? It is a naive expectation to believe that leads will authentically start an interracial relationship for the first time on national television."
She added, "The sad reality is that people of color become placeholders as the token person of color to add some flavor to the second half of the season."
Peter Weber with Natasha Parker, who finished season 24 in the top five.
Catherine Giudici, who appeared on the 17th season of The Bachelor and married lead Sean Lowe, echoed those thoughts in a June 7 Instagram post looking back on her time on the show. "When I was originally cast, I was very flattered but somewhat grounded by the fact that I would be one of the faces that represented people of color. I knew that one of the reasons I was probably chosen was because I was Filipino," she shared in the post. "I counted myself out to be his fiancée because of what I assumed Sean liked. I thought I was there just to check a box, but I ended up with so much more."
Giudici goes on to note that when she opened herself to the process, she was able to connect with Lowe and her experience ended up giving her more than she could've ever imagined, including "getting to represent a mixed race community." The pair have since gotten married and are the proud parents of three children.
While it's great that Giudici found her happily ever after, other people can't do the same if they're never allowed to get their foot in the door. This is why Lindsay isn't leaving things to chance - she's provided the franchise with five actionable steps to get them on the right path. "1. Cast leads that are truly interested in dating outside of their race; 2. Stop making excuses for the lack of diversity and take action to rectify the problem; 3. Diversify the producers on the show to make your contestants of color feel more comfortable; and 4. Stop creating problematic story lines [sic] for people of color."
And last but certainly not least, the former bachelorette called for the franchise to "make a statement acknowledging their systemic racism." "The system is not designed for people of color," she added. "This is not a shocking or groundbreaking statement when the creator of the show admitted that my season's lower ratings 'revealed something about our fans' and furthermore concluded that it was 'incredibly disturbing in a Trumpish kind of way.'"
"The system is not designed for people of color."
Lindsay ended her post by saying that only time will tell how production will respond to her comments, but it's obvious that she isn't the only one demanding change. Many fans have been clamoring for the same changes, especially as white contestants continue to get exposed for being racist, bigoted, or problematic in a plethora of other ways. Lee Garrett was exposed for tweeting a string of racist and sexist remarks (during the season with the first Black lead!), Garrett Yrigoyen "liked" social media posts that mocked feminists and transgender people and then went on to be selected by Bachelorette Becca Kufrin as her winner, and Hannah Brown recently faced backlash after singing the N-word while learning a TikTok dance.
It's obvious that the franchise needs to invest in some better background checks and diversify their cast pools enough to counter their dirty past. Hopefully sooner rather than later - because we're getting tired of waiting for them to do better.
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