Keke Palmer for Cosmopolitan US - August 2020!
“If you’re a human being with a heart, with breath in your lungs, it’s just too much to bear,” says 26-year-old Keke Palmer over (of course) a Zoom call on a Monday afternoon in early June. She’s sitting in her sister’s room, quarantining with family in Chicago. The world—Keke included—has been protesting the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and too many others, and calling for painfully necessary dialogue and policy changes to eradicate racism.
Influencers are sharing infographics about defunding the police. Moms are posting about white privilege on Facebook. America is finally facing its generational curses.
You can hear it in the sound of Keke’s pleas to the National Guard to march with her at a protest, when, surrounded by a halo of iPhones, she spoke passionately for two straight minutes, the sky bright and clear, her glossy red nails punctuating her words like exclamation marks. You can see it in the millions of times the video of this moment has been viewed, posted, retweeted, and shared.
It’s impossible to watch without feeling Keke’s fervor. Not that she considers herself an activist—she’s just an actor (and, for the record, a singer, author, and talk-show host) with a platform. And she doesn’t know how not to speak up. “I feel as if we can’t go back now,” she says. “It’s only going forward.”
Just like most of us, her eyes and thumbs are glued to her phone, refreshing Instagram, tweeting about not being able to fall asleep. She’s thinking about deaths that become hashtags, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how she fits into it all.
And she’s feeling optimistic.
We’re in the middle of this one-two punch: A lot of us are leaving our homes for the first time in months to participate in protests. How are you managing your emotions right now?
I don’t know how good I’m doing with the balancing thing. I’ve felt very tense, kind of obsessive in my mind, ruminating on it all. Coronavirus and quarantine were already making me anxious. I don’t like not knowing what to do with myself, being somebody who’s always working. My family has been a big part of me unloading. They’re my support system—plus my friends, people in my life I can really talk to.
How did you first respond to the protests?
With a lot of different emotions, when I saw some of the violence. I couldn’t actually see myself doing that because I work from a different place, but I understand it. There are people out there who feel like that is their only option in order to be heard or their only way to have access to something they feel represents value. If the language for so long toward you has been violence, how would you expect someone to respond? I feel like there’s such a lack of compassion.
I want to dig in to the moment when you asked National Guardsmen to join a peaceful demonstration. How did it feel to be out there?
I can’t even tell you. It was so euphoric. I just felt so united with everybody. It wasn’t no celebrity-type shit, you know what I mean? I’ve never felt like that before. If I sit and think about everything that’s happened in this country, I wouldn’t get out of fucking bed in the morning. So for us to have that moment of just helping each other heal, just standing by each other, marching and saying, “No justice, no peace.” That’s so powerful. Get more at Cosmopolitan!
Authorities Say Body Found At Lake Where 'Glee' Actress Naya Rivera Went Missing!
A body has been found at the Southern California lake where former "Glee" actress Naya Rivera disappeared, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office announced in a tweet Monday.
The body, which has not been identified, was discovered Monday morning at Lake Piru.
"Recovery is in progress," tweeted the VCSO. A news conference is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
Authorities have been searching for Rivera, 33, since Wednesday. She had gone to the lake that afternoon and rented a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son, according to authorities.
Rivera's son was later seen on the boat, but his mother was nowhere to be found. One life jacket was found on the boat and the boy was wearing another. Investigators found Rivera's purse and her identification, but no other clues on the boat.
Rivera has been presumed dead.Video from the dock shows Rivera and her son as the only two people getting on the boat, Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said at a news conference last week.
Detectives have spoken to Rivera's son and as a result of that conversation do not believe Rivera made it to shore, he said.
Rivera played Santana Lopez on the Fox show "Glee" for six years between 2009 and 2015, and appeared in nearly every episode of the musical-comedy-drama. She was also on the CBS sitcom "The Royal Family" and in the comedy film "The Master of Disguise."
#RHOA: Phaedra Parks Says Fans Can 'Keep Hope Alive' About a Return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta!
Phaedra Parks has a message for fans who want her to reclaim her peach: "Keep hope alive."
During a recent appearance for PEOPLE Now, Parks, 46, opened up about a possible return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta and dished on what fans will see when she stars in Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition.
"Well, keep hope alive," Parks said of her rejoining the Bravo franchise.
But "right now, I'm trying to find love," she said. "I'm not trying to fight love."
"I'm in a different place right now, so that's why you should tune into Marriage Boot Camp, so you can see me finding love and being in love versus fighting," Parks said.
After leaving RHOA in 2017 ahead of its 10th season, Parks is returning to reality TV on Marriage Boot Camp with her boyfriend, rapper and actor Medina Islam. The two have been dating since March 2019.
They'll be joined by Willie Taylor and Shanda Denyce (of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood fame); Love & Hip Hop: New York star Tahiry Jose and "Look Me In My Eyes" rapper Vado; model Toni Calvert and Grammy-nominated emcee Kurupt; as well as mom-to-be and Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood's Hazel E. and male model De’Von Waller.
All will go through intense sessions with Marriage Boot Camp's Dr. Ish Major — known for his unique sensibilities and no B.S. tough love — and Divorce Court's Judge Lynn Toler, whose drills help bootcampers move past their deep trauma.
Back in September, Parks gushed about her relationship, saying Islam is "a really great guy."
"He’s very calming and soothing and mild-mannered," she said. "I always dealt with the bad boys, and he’s very opposite from any guy I’ve ever dated. So that’s refreshing."
The two met on a dating app, though Parks explained she "knew him from around town in Atlanta."
"You know, he used to be on a show here so we have a lot of mutual friends," she explained. "One of my best friends is one of his best friends as well."
Parks' RHOA exit was a heated one as it came after she spent most of the season 9 reunion apologizing to Porsha Williams and Kandi Burruss for spreading drugging accusations.
Despite the tense final moments, Parks said after the reunion that she had no regrets and felt "everything happens for a reason."
“What’s meant to happen will happen,” Parks said. “They say you’re set up to step up for the next thing, right? I know that I’m fortunate. I know that good things happen to me because I have my feet on frugal ground. I can’t regret anything, but I know it was destined to happen.”
The surprising revelation — that Parks had been the one who told Williams that Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker had planned on drugging Williams and their mutual friend Shamea Morton in order to take advantage of them sexually — sent shockwaves through the RHOA cast.
It also appeared to put a fracture in Parks’ tight friendship with Williams, who had come under fire for repeating the accusations throughout the season because she believed the claims had come directly from Burruss.
The problem was, Parks had only heard the information from a still-unnamed source.
“I repeated it because I heard it,” Parks said in the final episode of the reunion. “Something was brought to me. I repeated what someone told me … I shouldn’t have repeated it … I screwed up … I’m sorry.”
By the reunion's end, it appeared Parks was on an island of her own, with most of the cast accusing her of lying.
Shortly after the reunion aired, it was revealed that Parks would not be returning.
#NewMusic: H.E.R. – Do To Me!
H.E.R. is back with her new record “Do To Me’. After hitting number one on Urban AC with Skip Marley for their song “Slow Down”, it only made sense for H.E.R. to continue with the Reggae sound.
LISTEN HERE
Just like all of her most recent releases, there’s no word on whether this will appear on H.E.R.’s debut album. There hasn’t been a lot of news on the album, but she’s been in the studio with the likes of DJ Camper, Sean Garrett and Eric Hudson.
#HipHopNews: Pop Smoke's 'Shoot for the Stars' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200!
Pop Smoke‘s first studio album is on top of the charts.
The late artist, who was tragically murdered at the age of 20 back in February, landed at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 with his posthumous set, Shoot for the Stars, as of Sunday (July 12) according to the chart company.
The album was released on July 3 and garnered 251,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It now marks the sixth biggest week of 2020 for any album, and the third largest for a hip-hop album. It also had the fourth largest streaming week of 2020, and is the first posthumous No. 1 since December of 2018 with XXXTentacion‘s Skins.
1. Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars
2. Hamilton: An American Musical original cast recording
3. Lil Baby, My Turn
4. DaBaby, Blame It on Baby
5. Post Malone, Hollywood’s Bleeding
6. The Weeknd, After Hours
7. Harry Styles, Fine Line
8. Polo G, The Goat
9. Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake
10. Lil Durk, Just Cause Y’all Wante
#RIP: John Travolta’s Wife Actress Kelly Preston Dies After Two-Year Battle With Breast Cancer!
Actress Kelly Preston died on Sunday after a two-year battle with breast cancer, her husband John Travolta confirmed in an Instagram post. She was 57.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer," Travolta wrote
“She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many."
"Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered," he added.
Preston had a wide-ranging career, starring in films including "Jerry Maguire," "Twins" and "Mischief."
Travolta and Preston had one of Hollywood's longest-lasting marriages, celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary last year.
The couple had three children, sons Jett and Benjamin and daughter Ella.
Jett died suddenly in 2009 at the age of 16 after suffering a seizure during a family trip to the Bahamas.
Both Preston and Travolta have been devout Scientologists for more than 40 years — and have been very open about their support for the controversial church. Preston has credited Scientology with helping her get sober and Travolta told U.S. Weekly in 2019 that their belief helped them heal after their eldest son’s death.
Ella responded to her mother's death in a post on Instagram early Monday.
"Anyone who is lucky enough to have known you or to have ever been in your presence will agree that you have a glow and a light that never ceases to shine and that makes anyone around you feel instantly happy," she said.
Preston enjoyed a lengthy career in film and television that began some 30 years ago.
She appeared in several 1980s comedies and co-starred opposite Kevin Costner in the sports drama “For Love of the Game.”
She acted alongside Travolta in the box-office flop “Battlefield Earth,” the Disney comedy “Old Dogs” and most recently in the 2018 mafia biopic “Gotti.”
She also guest-starred on various network television series, such as “Medium,” “CSI: Cyber” and “Joey.”
Civil Rights Icon Rep. John Lewis Has Not Passed Away, According To Spokesman!
U.S. Rep. John Lewis has not died, despite his name trending on twitter after a rumor circulated that the civil rights leader passed away. Michael Collins, spokesman for John Lewis released a statement saying,
“It’s only rumors, he is resting comfortably at home.”
The rumor began swirling after North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams tweeted a post, along with HBCUBuzz stating that the civil rights icon has passed away. Since then, HBCUBuzz and Rep. Alma Adams have deleted the posts and the North Carolina representative issued an apology for the mistake,
“We deeply regret a previous tweet based on a false news report.”
Alma Adams issued another apology stating that she is relieved knowing that Rep. John Lewis is at home resting,
“I am deeply sorry to Congressman John Lewis, his family, and his staff for the erroneous information posted to our social media accounts earlier today. Rep. Lewis is one of my friends and heroes and I am relieved to know he is at home resting.”
The civil rights leader has been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which he announced towards the end of 2019. He is currently receiving treatment for the time being and as a result he has used a proxy to cast votes in Congress and his public appearances have been very limited.
Wendy Williams Provides Update on Talk Show return!
Talk show host Wendy Williams took to Instagram on Friday, July 10, to give fans an update about how she is doing amid her show’s hiatus. The 55-year-old shared a brief Instagram live video taken from her New York City apartment. She discussed when fans can expect The Wendy Williams Show to return and also thanked frontline workers.
Production for Williams’ television show had to be shut down months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a need for social distancing. Williams hosted the show from her apartment at the beginning of quarantine but later announced that she would be going on hiatus to receive treatment for Graves’ disease. Her team revealed that the show won’t be back until it is safe for in-studio production to resume. There’s still no telling of when that might be, according to Williams.
In the video, the talk show host said that her show will come back during Phase 4 of the reopening process in the state of New York. New York City is currently only in Phase 3. Williams acknowledged the difficulties of the current times and thanked her fans for sticking with her through it all.
“You know, it is a hard time for all of us but we’re all in this together, like they say. Corona is on the rise. I want to shout out to peaceful protesters. Thank you also for giving me love and asking when I’m coming back,” she began.
She went on to express how eager she is to return to the show. She also voiced her gratitude for everyone making major sacrifices during this time, from grocery store employees to doctors, nurses, and other essential workers. The talk show host urged her followers to wear face masks, carry around hand sanitizer and to stay as safe as possible.
“The most important thing I do believe still is just wear your mask. Put your mask on. When you’re around people that you don’t know and you don’t have room to breathe, put your mask on! What’s the matter with you?” she said.
Despite the fact that she is ill, Williams looked stunning in a black leather jacket, a full face of makeup on.
The Barbadian PM thanks Rihanna for donation of 4 000 tablets!
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley thanked Bajan superstar and entrepreneur Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty for the donation of 4 000 tablets to help bridge the digital divide of the haves and have nots in Barbados.
Barbados, like other countries, was forced to move to digital education platforms as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the closure of schools. Measures to restrict movement and curb spread of the virus were implemented in March.
The tablets were donated through the Clara Lionel Foundation and the Jack Dorsey Start Small Foundation to assist students. The Ministry of Education had fallen short of its goal to acquire 10 000 tablets as indicated on the back page of today’s Daily Nation.
“We all know that education is the most important gift that we can give any child and to the extent that we can ensure that there is no digital divide among all of our students; that is our duty,” Mottley (right) said in a recorded address today.
Mottley repeated her now familier: “we can always do it better when we do it together, we are always stronger when we work together”.
The Prime Minister also mentioned Rihanna’s other philantrophic efforts: “Your Bajan-ness, your commitment to this country, your commitment to this region in the context of building climaite resilience has not gone unnoticed. The world has watched you be that extraordinary Bajan, that extraordinary global citizen that has not forgotten that their roots are right here in Barbados,” she said.
Mottley thanked Rihanna and those who work with the Clara Lionel Foundation for continuing to assist and give a voice to the voiceless.
The Prime Minister said there is a place here for Rihanna as others also want to say “thank you and we love you”.
Agencies such as United Nations Development Fund have said that the pandemic has caused gains in education to be lost as all children do not have access to electronic devices and Internet services to facilitate digital teaching and learning. “The world has seen many crises over the past 30 years, including the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-09. Each has hit human development hard but, overall, development gains accrued globally year-on-year,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.
“COVID-19 – with its triple hit to health, education, and income – may change this trend.
'Glee' Stars Amber Riley, Kevin McHale Ask Fans to Show 'Respect' Amid Naya Rivera Search!
Former Glee actors Amber Riley and Kevin McHale are asking fans to show respect for Naya Rivera's family while authorities search for her. Rivera has been missing since Wednesday afternoon, when she rented a boat to go swimming on Lake Piru in Ventura, California with her 4-year-old son Josey. Rivera's two former co-stars reminded fans how serious the situation is and to stop judging for staying silent on social media.
Riley, who starred as Mercedes Jones on Glee, refrained from publicly commenting on Rivera's disappearance but was hounded by fans who wanted her to say something. On Sunday, she broke her silence, telling fans to "show some" respect. "All our energy is going toward helping find Naya and praying for her safe return and for her family," Riley wrote. "No one owes anyone online a performance of grief. This is very real and devastating. Focus on Naya and her family. Not us. We don’t matter right now."
McHale, who played Artie Abrams, shared Riley's comments and echoed her sentiments. "I cannot begin to understand what Naya's family must be feeling," he wrote, adding that Rivera's co-stars are "completely shattered" but remain hopeful. "Please respect her family & their privacy in this moment. Please refrain from judging those who don’t show their pain on social media," McHale continued, adding a heart emoji.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department continued their search on Lake Piru for a fifth day Sunday. Rivera was last seen when she rented a boat at the lake concession stand Wednesday afternoon. When she did not return the boat three hours later, employees searched for it and only found Josey asleep inside. Authorities believe Rivera drowned and have ruled out foul play. Surveillance footage shows only Rivera and her son getting into the boat.
Sunday's operations included searches of the cabins and outbuildings surrounding the lake to see if anything changed. Sgt. Shannon King told PEOPLE the cabins were unoccupied. She said they looked at the cabins again because social media users kept asking the to check.
Unfortunately, authorities have seen no evidence that Rivera left the water. "It appears to be 100 percent just a tragic drowning," King told PEOPLE. The search for Rivera has also been hampered by the tough conditions of Lake Piru, which includes murky waters and underwater trees and shrubs. "It’s not like typical waters, which are crystal clear, this is murky, cold lake water," King added.
Rivera is best known for playing Santana Lopez on Glee, which aired from 2009 to 2015. She also starred in Lifetime's Devious Maids and the horror movie At The Devil's Door. She has a recurring role in the YouTube series Step Up: High Water
Lisa Marie Presley's Son Benjamin Keough Dies at 27!
Lisa Marie Presley has unfortunately lost her son, Benjamin Keough, in a tragic way.
According to TMZ, Ben, only 27, died from a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound in Calabasas, Calif.
Benjamin is the son of Lisa Marie and musician Danny Keough, and a brother to actress Riley Keough.
“She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter Riley,” Roger Widynowski, Lisa Marie’s rep, shared with People. “She adored that boy. He was the love of her life.”
Lisa Marie previously spoke about Ben and his resemblance to her father, Elvis Presley.
“Ben does look so much like Elvis. He was at the Opry and was the quiet storm behind the stage,” she shared, according to the site. “Everybody turned around and looked when he was over there. Everybody was grabbing him for a photo because it is just uncanny.”
Darius Rucker And Wife Beth Leonard Split After 20 Years Of Marriage!
It’s over for Darius Rucker and wife Beth Leonard.,On Saturday, the 54-year-old country singer announced he and his wife of 20 years had decided to “consciously uncouple,” taking a cue from Gwyneth Paltrow and ex Chris Martin’s separation statement in 2014.
“Beth and I would like to share that after much reflection we have made the decision to consciously uncouple,” Rucker wrote on Instagram. “We remain close friends and parenting partners and continue to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. Our priority will always be our beautiful family.”
Rucker and Leonard wed in 2000 and share two children together: daughter Daniella, 19, and son Jack, 15. The singer-songwriter also has a 25-year-old daughter, Cary, from a previous relationship.
The pair initially met in 1998 when Rucker was touring with Hootie & the Blowfish. Leonard was working for VH1 in New York at the time, according to Wide Open Country.
Rucker added Saturday that he and Leonard “have so much love” for one another.
“We have so much love in our hearts for each other and will continue to encourage growth and expansion in one other. Please be kind as we take on this journey, and we thank you for your love and support always,” Rucker posted, signing his note, “Darius & Beth Rucker.”
Rapper Lil Marlo dead in Atlanta!
Atlanta rapper Rudolph Johnson, better known as Lil Marlo, is dead, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office. The medical examiner’s office confirmed to NBC News on Sunday morning that a deceased individual by the name of Rudolph Johnson was brought in during the last 24 hours after reports surfaced of the rapper’s death. Johnson was reportedly 27, though the medical examiner’s office told NBC News he was 30.
Cause of death has yet to be determined, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office.
‘Ducey needs to do his job’: Family member of Arizona patient speaks as hospitals pass 2,000 deaths
The Atlanta Police Department confirmed that officers found a 30-year-old man who was shot in a vehicle on I-285 near the Benjamin E. Mays Drive overpass after responding to a call about an accident on Saturday night. Police did not confirm the man’s identity.
The department believed the driver was intentionally shot and the department's homicide investigators are looking into the incident.
Johnson was an upcoming artist who emerged on the scene in 2017 with "2 Hard the Way," a collaboration with his friend Lil Baby. The rapper recently released his album “1st and 3rd,” which he has been promoting on his Instagram profile.
Johnson posted a series of photos and videos with his children on Father's Day, with the caption "Thanks For Making Me Y’all Father I Wouldn’t Trade Y’all For Da World."
Fans and fellow artists mourned Johnson’s death on social media, including his Quality Control Music label mate Lil Yachty, who said the two had been working on music together recently. Quality Control Music CEO Pierre Thomas also shared a photo of Johnson in a tribute on his Instagram Sunday.
Tina Knowles Lawson Reacts To The “Activist Police” Criticizing Beyonce: “The Girl Is Constantly Working For Our People”!
Designer, businesswoman, and former hairdresser Tina Knowles Lawson joined the “Hustling With Vivica A. Fox” podcast where she spoke about activism critics.
On the podcast, Mama Tina, also known as the mother of Beyoncé and Solange, addressed people who questioned Beyoncé’s contribution to the community.
Lawson mentioned that she noticed a ton of criticism surrounding Beyonce’s recent graduation speech, adding that everyone had a lot to say about the singer’s appearance and speech.
“She’s not that out front telling you everything she’s doing, but the girl is constantly working for our people,” Lawson said. “She is constantly giving back with her money, her time, and her energy.”
Lawson, who is also a social and racial justice advocate, advised young people to stop being critical of how others protest. ”Everybody is not the same, ” she continued.
“Everything everybody did in this protest of Mr. Floyd’s death, whether you posted, whether you donated, whether you signed petitions, whether you marched and you were on the front lines … it all worked in tandem, and it worked together to get the results that we got,” Lawson stated.
Mrs. Lawson referred to activism critics as “activist police.”
“We have to stop being so critical of other people and what they do and try to dictate because nobody made you the activist police,” she said.
The philanthropist said there is no monopoly on activism; that is done in many many ways.
According to The Undefeated, Lawson received Sundial Brand’s Community Commerce Impact Award for her philanthropic work.
The mother of two successful women is also well respected for her contributions to the Black and brown communities. The Los Angeles Times reported that the activist recently penned a letter to Congress calling for the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solution Act’s approval.
The HEROES Act would provide $3 trillion funding for “healthcare, economic security, justice system reform, housing, and voting access” in communities negatively impacted by the pandemic.
Jessica White Says Nick Cannon Conceived His Child With Brittany Bell While They Were On A Break!
When Jessica White professed her eternal love for Nick Cannon on social media, it was sweet but confusing since he was suspected to have another child on the way with Brittany Bell, the mother of his youngest child. One of White’s followers on Instagram directly asked her about the situation and White decided to address it for what she said would be the last time.
A follower commented, “Nick is expecting another child with the amazing ms.bell. She really loves him and is so loyal. Do you feel like maybe you are getting in the way of all that….” White responded saying that Bell and Cannon’s child was conceived when she and Cannon were on a break.
Nick and I have been together off and on for years. Their new child was conceived when we had temporarily broken up. Any child is a blessing . This is the last time I will answer these questions . I am no home wrecker at all . Nick was a free man at that time and can be with whoever he so chooses and for years that person has always been me . That is between him and Britney I support him through thick and thin as he does the same for me . Have a blessed day . I hope this clears up people’s misconceptions as I am being honest about this situation which is delicate and complicated . With that it’s my hope to stop having to answer this nonsense and focus on the important things in life . Long life health healing spirituality and the current climate in the world as it pertains to us all . The whole world is suffering at this time I would hope to see more positivity than negativity god bless you all.
White and Cannon were first romantically linked to each other in 2015 after Cannon and Mariah Carey ended their six-year marriage to each other, E! Online reported. When they were first dating, they were staying out of the spotlight “out of respect for Nick’s family since the divorce [was] not final.” Carey and Cannon share twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
In her Instagram story a few weeks ago, White said she hoped she, Carey and Bell could “forge a sisterhood and friendship for the sake of family.”
Madeline Swegle Becomes The First Black Female Fighter Pilot In The U.S. Navy!
After 110 years of aviation, the United States Navy welcomes its first Black female tactical jet pilot.
According to the U.S Navy, Lieutenant, Madeline Swegle, a native of Virginia, completed the rigorous undergraduate Tactical Air Strike pilot training on Tuesday.
The chief of naval air training tweeted out, “BZ to Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle on completing the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator syllabus. Swegle is the @USNavy’s first known Black female TACAIR pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold later this month. HOOYAH!”
Lt. Swegle, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2017, is certified for the TACAIR mission and is eligible to fly fighter jets such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G, or Growler. =
Lt. Swegle milestone comes as pilots have said the Navy’s aviation community needs more diversity.
In 2018, Military.com’s study revealed that Black pilots are rare in the service, particularly in fighter units, and according to the Pensacola News Journal, less than 7% of aviators were female pilots.
Currently assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron 21 in Kingsville, Texas, Lt. Swegle will receive her gold wings at a ceremony slated for July 31.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘MASKED UP’
Look, you just take 2 face masks and now you’ve got yourself a pair of shorts. And some people out there think masks are useless.
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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