ReShonda Tate
For years, no one knew exactly what happened to the Academy Award that McDaniel bequeathed to Howard University after her death in 1952. On October 30, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finally decided to replace the missing Oscar with McDaniel’s 1940 Best Supporting Actress award for her role as “Mammy” in the 1939 epic drama Gone with the Wind. The award was the first to go to a black actor. For years, family members, fans and fellow actors have called for the Academy to replace the Oscars. Their request fell on deaf ears—until now. I was happy to be there with family, friends and fans as one of McDaniel’s biggest dreams came true again – to be an inspiration to youth. It may have taken a while, but the Academy should be commended for getting it right.
What we are NOT going to do is embarrass Lina Hidalgo.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has returned to work after taking a two-month break to seek treatment for her mental health. In a statement posted on Twitter by a Harris County judge, Hidalgo said, “Thanks to the treatment I received, I no longer feel like I am constantly struggling with depression. I hope others who are struggling will look at my experience and feel empowered to get the help they need rather than suffer in silence.” However, there is a part that criticizes Hidalgo for missing work. Five people filed a lawsuit asking Hidalgo to be removed from office for incompetence. Hidalgo is doing what many of us need to learn to do: putting our mental health first. Would these people try to judge her as incompetent if she was suffering from cancer or a heart attack? It’s time we look at treating mental illness the same way. It’s time to silence the stigma.
Bay is back
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Beyoncé has wrapped up her epic Renaissance Tour, but if you missed it… no need to rush. The superstar will embark on a world tour in AMC theaters later this year. “Renaissance: A Beyoncé Film” will open in thousands of theaters in the United States, Canada and Mexico on December 1, with additional locations to be announced in the coming weeks. According to the official synopsis, the film “highlights the journey of the Renaissance World Tour, from its beginning to its opening in Stockholm, Sweden, and its finale in Kansas City, Missouri.” The film is two hours and 40 minutes long, and tickets start at $22, which is much less than what many of us paid to see her in person. By the way, The Renaissance World Tour is expected to generate approximately $560 million in ticket sales. Reports say that by the end of the tour, Beyoncé will bring about $4.5 billion to the American economy, about the same as what the 2008 Olympics brought to Beijing. And it is because of these dear people that she is Queen.
