America’s current Immigration Policy is tarnishing the American brand, African Americans Cultural Appropriators or Survivalists?

In this episode of What’s The 411, Kizzy Cox, Onika McLean, and Keisha Wilson are talking about accused sexual predators, R. Kelly and, Jeffrey Epstein; Donald Trump’s immigration policy, African Americans migrating to Africa, African Americans and cultural appropriation, and the backlash surrounding Halle Bailey’s selection to star in the Disney remake of The Little Mermaid.

ACCUSED SEXUAL PREDATORS JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND R. KELLY

Kizzy: Hey, all right, so guys, it was not a good week last week if you were an accused sexual predator because they’re just sweeping up, scooping up them sexual predators.

So, singer, songwriter, and producer R. Kelly, he got swept up on sex trafficking charges again now. Um, and also the financier…Have you heard of Jeffrey Epstein? He also got swept up on federal sex trafficking charges. It's worth noting that Jeffrey Epstein back in 2008, was convicted, he was convicted of soliciting a 14-year-old girl for prostitution and…

Onika: He knew she was 14?

Kizzy: Of course, of course. And, he served 13 months, get this, 13 months in custody with work release, that that's what he got. So, he got six days. He could go off and go to work and then come back into prison...

Onika: …New York…has John School, well I don't even know when you get caught soliciting prostitution and instead of going to jail, you got to go to schools on a Sunday, not Saturday. Cause most of them see the Jewish men and um, and they just talked to them about how it's wrong.

Kizzy: This was way worse. I mean, and this, I mean this is 36 victims that he had here and that was the plea deal. So, you just mentioned him, Alexander Acosta, who was just now the former US Secretary of Labor. He was the one who gave him like this kind of sweetheart deal. Cause at the time he was working for the United, he was working as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida where they brought the charges.

Now part of that was that he got immunity from all federal criminal charges. Right. And so that's what his, you know, team, is now sitting on. They’re like, oh no, no, no. He can't get federal charges.

Onika: Double jeopardy.

Kizzy: They're (Southern District of New York) like, nope, nope. Not in our state. This is New York, womp, womp. So right now, Jeffrey Epstein is trying to get bail. He's putting up his mansion, $77 million. He has a jet that he's trying to put up as well. He's saying he's going to pay for his own guards around the clock. He's trying to do anything he can to stay out of…

Onika: All of this because he had sex with children and youth.

Kizzy: Woo, Lord. But listen, listen, listen. Now nobody knows him. Nobody knows Jeffrey Epstein. Before, he was hanging out with Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and now, plane, what plane. I don't know about a plane. What are you talking about a plane? Now, nobody knows him.

But my thing is, what do you ladies think, because you know, Onika, we've had conversations. People are like, oh my God, they threw Bill Cosby in jail, right. We got Harvey Weinstein running free. Jeffrey Epstein is a very wealthy, white, well-connected man, and he's going down in this. So, what do you guys think about these charges?

Wow. They're pretty disturbing when you think about it. Um, and it's just interesting how money and power can really buy you freedom. Even though it's been reported. R. Kelly doesn't have as much money that he might be in financial straits, dire, dire straits. Um, he still has some power. He has recognition. He could probably still afford better lawyers than some, or maybe even most. So…

Kizzy: He got off, back in 2012 was it when they finally call the case and he got off.

Keisha: He got off and then allowed to walk around and, and allegedly, almost definitely still commit these heinous crimes. So, I'm just, I'm curious with the Epstein case as the pressure mounts on him, when he's going to start singing and how many people…

Onika: Singing what, like taking other people down.

Keisha: Yes. Because there’s the notion is that the reasons why he got that nice deal because he was connected to Bill Clinton and other powerful political figures. So if he starts, if the pressure gets to him and he started singing, we may find out who really had more of an active role and knowingly participated in his like…

Onika: There are going to be so many presidential hopefuls like, no, I'm good. Forget that presidency.

Keisha: And one other thing, that I will, I'm interested in knowing is if both R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein are found guilty, what's the sentencing going to be for both of them? Because money can be a really good equalizer in terms of leveling the plane. But now you have a racial aspect going on here. Will R. Kelly get a sweetheart deal or something similar to that of Jeffrey Epstein?

Onika: But, he won’t.

Kizzy: Because now he doesn’t even have bail. They’re not even setting bail with R. Kelly.

Onika: The way things are set up. We try people in the media. He’s got that documentary. He’s got all that other stuff going on. They’re going to try to throw the book at him. Now, Jeffrey Epstein is going to be different because his connections are going to be on the back end, a lot of stuff you’re not going to know about.

Keisha: But, are they going to be allowed to touch him?

Onika: They’re going to touch him because they gotta save him. Some things are just too big to fail.

Kizzy: I don't know. Let's see how this plays out because I actually think Jeffrey Epstein is going to serve some time. I don't think he's going to get off scot-free the way he did before, or almost scot-free.

Onika: So, why is Harvey Weinstein still in these streets.

Kizzy: Harvey Weinstein is actually in court. He's having his court cases still playing out.

Onika: So, he'll still be in the streets. We still,

Kizzy: We'll see what happens.

AMERICA’s NEW IMMIGRATION POLICY

Onika: Switching from a Trump associate to Donald Trump himself, his new policies regarding the treatment of immigrants…, like Central American immigrants in particular. He is going bat shit crazy.

Kizzy: Onika, you know this is not my topic.

Onika: What do you think it's going to take to turn this around? Like, it's so much going on, he's saying so much stuff now. He's like, oh, well if you're trying to get asylum then you should seek asylum in the country that’s right adjacent to your country.

Kizzy: Which is Mexico.

Onika: It's like, get the hell out of here. No, we're in,

Kizzy: Did you see his most recent tweet? Calling out (Congresswomen) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar…

Onika: The squad? He said, go back home if you don't like America…

Keisha: Go back where you came…

Kizzy: Crime infested place.

Onika: You know who should go back to where they came from, Melania, are you crazy, all your ex-wives, well, except, except Marla, but you know, Marla. But, come on.

Kizzy: And, that's what's so funny. It's like everybody, even, um, Ilhan Omar, she's been a citizen longer than Melania Trump has and how can you say…

Onika: I know Melania is saying, I can't wait until they take him to jail. I just can't wait until this is over. Come on Baron, get your toys, get your toys.

Kizzy: I mean when you have people saying, I mean the immigration policies are horrible. We already knew that. He kind of rode in on the whole immigration thing, saying Mexicans are rapists and we've got to get them out of the country and its invaders. All this stuff. He's already established that. But for him to even say now that people who are here are ready, people who are American citizens, you don't belong here because they're black and brown, that is ridiculous.

Onika: He knows that. What he's saying is if you don't love America, you should leave.

Kizzy: No, that's, that's, that's the gloss he's putting on it. What he means is, you don't really belong here because you are, but he's black.

Onika: This is going to heat up because he has to win this election, and that rhetoric wins the elections.

Kizzy: That is what he thinks, but think about it when you look at the midterm elections when he doubled down on the immigration, he lost a whole bunch of house seats, so it didn't really help him as much as he thought it was going to.

Onika: Guess what, Billy Bob is going to come down out the mountains. They all gonna be like, get your possum and your handguns.

Kizzy: Onika McLean. Onika McClean.

Onika: Okay. I'm just saying what do you guys think needs to happen to turn this thing around? Like, America has lost so much street cred, like America's like…

Kizzy: We’re supposed to be that shining city on the hill, the land of opportunity.

Onika: How do we get it back?

Keisha: Ideally, you get him, and all the people of his ilk and you send them out on a remote island where they can live out the rest of their ignorant lives together. However…

Onika: But then there would be nobody here. It would just be us. Like there'll be a good one good meal.

Keisha: But, in all seriousness, I think, I mean, he's definitely got to go.

Onika: He's got like four more years.

Keisha: No! Agent Orange, gone. He's got to go. And I think, I mean, I'm not professing to be a political expert at all, but I feel as though there has to be more unity between the Democrats and Republicans on what vision they want from America's for all Americans, not just the rich, not for the poor.

Onika: But that's not happening.

Keisha: I know, but that's the problem.

Onika: That's like that statement. I want to see like five like little kids singing behind your singing swing low, sweet chariot. But because it's a capitalist society.

Keisha: But I said the only way that's ever gonna move. Because every, both sides have their own agendas and they're not there to staunch on it. Right, right.

Kizzy: And I think Republicans, you know, they have that proximity to power. Yes, their man is, it has the presidency. They have all these statehouses across the country. They have the power and trading higher than it's ever. Right.

Onika: The money is happening. Like, the Dow is trading high as it ever…the money is happening.

Kizzy: But, at what cost because you know, you're doubling down on who you think might be okay with this kind of rhetoric, this kind of white identity politics stuff. The white population is shrinking. The people of color is what's growing in this country. By 2050 we'll be…

Onika: But not the white dollar. It's not strong. So that's the thing.

Kizzy: So, it's not, it's not sustainable. It's not sustainable. It's not sustainable.

Onika: It is.

Kizzy: But, not long-term.

Onika: Oh, it is and it goes to another story I am going to talk about later because what we have, what we have bought into is, white culture in a way that that...

Kizzy: Who?

Onika: Non-white people, the makeup, the hair, the nails, everything to be like this lily-white thing. So as long as we're not gonna, we're not gonna, we're not gonna...

Kizzy: I know where you're going with this. But we're not going to vote for that at the ballot box. I don't know. A whole lot of black people are gonna say, Trump.

Onika: No, but you're going to know a whole lot of black people that don't vote still. Same thing. Cause they still don't feel like they are part of (a seat at) the table. They still, they don't feel like eating at that table still. Right. Okay. So, I know that you guys have comments on this subject. Like give me a break, please comment below, let us know if and then share this video because this is like a topic that we really need to start like really circulate it.

Kizzy: Yes. And we need to vote. Guys hope, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote.

Onika: But they have to feel like they're part of it. That's the thing.

Kizzy: But that's what I saw. Like 25 people running for president. Right. So everybody's like, I represent you, I represent you. I represent, you know, so there's, there's a lot of options this time. Hillary Clinton just wasn't popular.

Onika: We had a lot of options last time before they dwindled it down to Hillary, we had a lot of options.

Kizzy: No we didn’t. We had Bernie (Sanders), we had Bernie and we had Hillary. That's it.

Onika: No.

Kizzy: We had a gazillion Republicans running.

Onika: Oh. Well, maybe Kamala (Harris).

Kizzy: We'll see. We'll see what happens. But yeah, you know, hit us up in the comments and let us know what you think.

AFRICAN AMERICANS MIGRATING TO AFRICA

Keisha: As more people want to come into the country, we will discuss people who want to leave the good old United States of America. Many African Americans here in the United States are very pessimistic about the mood and the direction in which this country is going. And they have decided that they are going to return home, quote-unquote, to the African continent. Recently on Al Jazeera English, they sat down and spoke with a black South African and African Americans who moved from the United States to Namibia and Ghana to share their experiences. Before I ask my questions, I'll ask both of you and you at home, have you ever been to Africa? Would you consider migrating to Africa or maybe another country? And what would it take for you to make that big move?

Kizzy: Onika, you first.

Onika: So I have? I've not been to Africa, so, I really, I don't know. I don't think so. I like Brooklyn. Is it like Brooklyn? Cause I like Brooklyn, not the gentrified Brooklyn, like old school Brooklyn.

Kizzy: I've been to Africa several times. I've been to South Africa, which is a lot like I'd say, Harlem, it's a lot like Harlem. There are…it's a mix of people. There are so many places.

Onika: is there a Red Rooster?

Kizzy: No. They have their own version though. They have all of their rooftop bars. Um, it is very easy, I'm telling you, South Africa was lit. I loved South Africa, so I went to Kenya, which is very different, but it also has a lot of things to do.

Onika: Trevor Daly is from...

Keisha and Kizzy: Trevor Noah.

Onika: Right, Trevor Noah, from The Daily Show.

Kizzy: I've been to Egypt, which I loved. I love Egypt. You know what it was, what was so interesting, I felt really connected to the continent in Egypt. I don't know whether it was because there are so many different pyramids and all that stuff. I felt connected to history there. It just, it just felt, it just filled me up in a very different way.

Onika: Would you move?

Kizzy: So I, you know what, because I've had friends who actually have lived there and diplomats who've lived there for years and years and years. I could see myself living in Africa. Absolutely. I could see myself living there. I don't know if I lived there forever because I do love Brooklyn, Brooklyn. But I'm, I definitely would like,

Onika: I think it’s a boy in Africa does not make sense. It's…

Kizzy: No, I mean it's just, it's a beautiful, beautiful place. And it's sometimes nice to just be in a place where you feel like you have the majority. And I'm not saying it's not good here. I love it here. I love the diversity here, obviously. But just feeling sometimes that it's not like you're not singled out because you're black. Everybody kind of looks like that.

Onika: Right. So, in Paris and, actually in Spain, I didn't feel black. I felt like a person. Mm. If that makes sense to you. What I was like, wait, I don't feel black. Like I don't have anything that I felt black and in America until you leave America. And I was like, wait, what's this?

Kizzy: Exactly. And I'm saying, wait, go to Africa. Okay. That's, you know what I mean That's that feeling in it and it's a good feeling.

Onika: But what are we going to do about Brooklyn, though?

Kizzy: Oh, we’re going to come back to Brooklyn, we’re going to be here, we’re going to be right here. Yeah. So, I would, I would do that. I would definitely move to Trinidad. I would definitely do that. Yeah. So, definitely moving around and just being you places where, you know, feel like home.

Onika: Maybe I'll go to Africa with you.

Kizzy: You need to come to Africa, you need to come to Africa, we need to go to Nigeria.

Onika: I keep feeling they might keep me, they’re gonna keep me. They’re going to be like, oh, our queen and then I'm going to be there.

Keisha: Well, then you'll be a queen.

Kizzy: Oh, Lord.

Onika. You remember…remember what I'm saying,

Keisha and Kizzy: Don’t say, “Coming to America.”

Onika: You remember in “Coming to America,” and they saw him in the stadium. They were like, oh, hailing. I wouldn’t even know what to do with that kind of power.

Keisha: You would get used to it.

Kizzy (to Keisha): Would you, go, would you go?

Keisha: Oh Gosh. I've been to, Africa. I've been to Egypt and I loved it. I just thought I loved it.

Onika: I feel left out, I’m mad. The jealous part of me, okay, I'm going to go.

Keisha: I didn't speak a lick of Arabic, but I found the people to be really warm and the history, I mean it was just really great. And I have a friend who currently lives in Johannesburg and she loves it there and I'm trying to visit. I think it's, I think the question is, there are a couple of questions, what am I leaving the U.S. for? Am I trading one set of problems for a different set of problems? You know, at this point. In the video, Al Jazeera English, at least one of the women described this pull to go back to Africa and feel connected.

Onika: What’s his name?

Kizzy: You are so cynical, Onika.

Onika: I’m just saying, I felt a pull…

Keisha: Yeah, I didn't, I don't feel that pull, I mean not that I don't have an interest to or desire to learn more about Africa and African culture, but I just don't feel like I need to uproot my life to gain that knowledge.

Right.

Keisha: And then, also I am very much a creature of habit and I'm a sports junkie, so I need ESPN in my life and everything.

Kizzy: It's a cricket, you know.

Keisha: I told them I need my football I need my basketball.

Kizzy: You know, they have soccer.

Kesha: No, no, it's not the same.

Onika: You know, soccer players are hot.

Keisha: I'm not saying that they aren’t, I wouldn't mind dating a couple. However,

Onika: You could date Carmelo in Africa, and LaLa, she wouldn’t know, she wouldn’t know anything. Maybe you could do that.

Keisha: I think he does some work in Africa.

Onika: Um, maybe he'll do some extra work.

Keisha: Oh, maybe so.

Kizzy: She’s not ready yet.

Keisha: So yes, as I was saying, as a sports junkie, you know, I'm used to having my ESPN and there are just certain comforts that I'm used to being here, that when I travel outside of the country that I don't get, and I think I would really miss, but never say never. You never know what circumstances life would bring. Maybe it's Carmelo for me or my African prince…

Onika: You might like eggplant…

Keisha: maybe an amazing job opportunity. Who knows?

Onika: That's true.

Kizzy: You know what, Onika, stop the madness. Let’s bring it back. Let's bring it back.

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

Onika: Okay. Hey, what's up! We've seen many articles. This is my kind of a call back from what I was talking about earlier. So, we have seen many articles about black people just being outraged about, cultural appropriation. Like, oh, Kim Kardashian, take those braids out, un-pout your lips, take the butt down. So, they’re, you know, up in arms about culture. “Cultural appropriation, it's real, mom.” I have like a whole joke about that because my daughter says that all the time. So, this is my thing. Why do black people have selective outrage over cultural appropriation when we are the ultimate appropriators? It's like, think about what we do. And I know y'all gonna think I've come for your edges because I'm about to talk about weaves, but y'all got weaves.

Kizzy: I don’t have a weave.

Onika: Okay. Cosmetics. Right. Even gels, we’re trying to soften up all the things that are, that are inherently ours. Right. So, we're doing the same thing, right. We're, we're doing the same thing.

Kizzy: It's different. I think it's different because, you know, again, going back to being a minority in a country that for years told you that you are not good enough, that you know, the...the width of your nose was too big, that your hair was too kinky, that your body wasn't right. And then we grew up having to maneuver that. And so, we, we took on those trappings of white culture to fit in better. I think that's very different than now.

Onika: Okay.so now we got it, right?

Keisha and Kizzy: No

Onika: But we’ve got it enough to say that you're appropriating my culture. You got it enough to say that you've been brainwashed.

Kizzy: It’s very funny that a Kim Kardashian will be celebrated for her body type and cornrows much more than we are doing the exact same thing.

Onika: But guess what, who is celebrating her? We’re supporting them.

Kizzy: And other people as well. If we're wearing cornrows and, and we go to work or something and we wear our natural hair, there've been plenty of stories where we've reported on where people are like, oh, your hair is not professional. Or, take a kid out of school because you're your cornrows are not professional. A white person will more quickly get, um, accepted for that, than we will.

KEISHA: Two states have passed legislation banning discrimination against natural hairstyles. California was the first. New York was the second. So that means there were enough incidents where people were having issues because of their hair because they chose to wear a more natural hairstyle. One that's more like an African descent.

Onika: But now it's more acceptable for us. We're accepting it more so, so, so the numbers are increasing. So, all of us, you, if everybody had the damn Afro, then it just is what it is. Right?

Keisha: But when you think about who has a lot of decision-making power, it's not African Americans. When you go for job interviews, chances are you're sitting in front of a non-minority. You're sitting in front of a white male of a white woman and they have the decision-making powers. So, if I go in with my with dreadlocks or braids, cornrows, whatever, an Afro, I'm looking at them and they’re like, umm, I don't like that look, that's not appropriate when there's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing or how I wear my hair, but the decision-maker doesn't like it, so, therefore, I lose out on an opportunity. So I think sometimes for us, appropriation is a means of survival. It's a means of surviving and advancing in life. So, whether it's your hair or living in a certain neighborhood, because unfortunately a lot of resources are pumped into neighborhoods where black, and minorities are not, are not predominate. So, for myself, if I had a child, the better school system might be in that white neighborhood.

Onika: I did the same thing for my children. They went to school in East New York, like hello, yeah.

Keisha: Yeah, you wanted to give your children better opportunities. So that means you had to get them into a school that didn't, where the library, you have to test them and then you had to guide, not even busted him. You had to transport them someplace far.

Onika: I get it. But those dollars can totally be spent, our dollars can be spent with black businesses to build that up. So, so eventually when you're sitting across from the interviewer, they look more like you. You understand. So, what happens. Well, what happens, we still buy non-black. We still need to have the latest Gucci, Fendi, all those companies.

Keisha: Not, me I can't afford that.

Onika: Then, we’re really quick to say, we’re poor. Like, that's the thing in our culture, we're poor. Oh, like that's the thing. We don't embrace wealth, power and success, we are like, oh, I don't have that, that I wouldn't do that. You know, I'm trying to say, it's like so accepting for us to feel like that. No.

Keisha: But, just because I can't afford Gucci or Fendi, it doesn't mean that I can't and I can't or I won't support a black (owned) business. The place where I get my nails done. It's a black-owned business.

Onika: But they have black couture, like, high end.

Keisha: I can’t afford that either! Don’t judge me Onika. Just because you got edges, you want to act brand new.

Onika: So, you see how she’s coming for my edges.

HALLE BAILEY TAPPED FOR LITTLE MERMAID

Keisha: Halle Bailey is tapped to take the lead role in Disney Freeform’s remake of The Little Mermaid.

Everyone: Yay!!

Onika: I knew that. I knew that.

Kizzy: You did not know that.

Keisha: Entertainment Tonight posted on their Instagram page that despite the criticism that Disney Freeform has received for choosing Halle, they've got their girl and they're standing by their decision. So now, Onika and Kizzy, there are a lot of people on Instagram who are still livid over this choice. One person saying that the mermaid is a white character with red hair. And that Disney should not be so lazy and create a new character. What do you guys think?

Kizzy: I think it's ludicrous because she is a mermaid, a mermaid is not real.

Onika: She's a cartoon first of all.

Kizzy: Cartoon, mermaids don't exist.

Onika: They should make Mickey Mouse black. That will piss them off. Wait, Mickey Mouse is black.

Keisha: Mermaids, don't exist. So mermaids could be any color. So who decided that mermaids are white? So, you know, I think it's interesting that you know, there's this outrage over this.

Onika: Shout out to white people, shout out to white people. I like how white people do stuff, right. They be, like, this is our stuff. Tell me, different. And then that's the thing. Y’all are going for it, y’all are going for it.

Kizzy: Are we back to the appropriations thing, again? I don’t know.

Onika: Yes. You’re smart girl, you’re a smart girl.

Keisha: I'm just gonna say, just going to say that it's really ironic that there's outrage for this when there were plenty of white actors who played minority people.

Onika: Shout out to Liz Taylor!

Keisha: I Googled this and there were at least 25 cases. There were four that I popped out.

Onika: Please say, Liz Taylor.

Keisha: It was Liz Taylor, Angelina Jolie as Mariane Pearl. Mariane Pearl had curly hair. She had a darker complexion, Afro-Cuban descent, and Angelina is not that.

Onika: Sigourney Weaver was going to play Rosa Parks….I’m lying.

Kizzy: Girl, that doesn’t make sense.

Onika: None of it makes sense.

Keisha: Joseph Fiennes played Michael Jackson, Lawrence Olivier was in full blackface for Othello (Shakespeare) who is a Moor, and then Jake Gyllenhaal was the lead in the Prince of Persia. No Persian heritage whatsoever. Yet there is no outrage. So white people, the ignorant white people, because not all white people are the same. Get your life together.

Kizzy: Not all white people.

Keisha: just like all black people don't do they buy, buy, buy, buy

Onika: All anything doesn't do...

Keisha: So that clarifies

Kizzy: Exactly. Exactly.

SHOW CLOSE

Kizzy: That’s going to do it for this week’s edition of What's The 411! Yes, your smart source for urban lifestyle and entertainment. I'm Kizzy Cox and on behalf of my co-hosts Onika McLean and Keisha Wilson. Thank you for spending your time with, What's The 411.

VIDEO DISCUSSION: Cindy Rainne, the Irresistible Me singer, Shares Her Blueprint for Getting Unstuck and Going After Your Dreams

 If you are an aspiring singer, or a singer stuck in a rut, then you do want to watch What’s The 411TV’s interview with singer-songwriter Cindy Rainne.

At What’s The 411TV, we’re not aspiring singers, but the things that were getting in the way of Cindy Rainne being her best self happens to all of us at some point in our lives. How Cindy dealt with those issues to get her on the road to be her best self can be a lesson for all of us.

What’s The 411’s hosts, award-winning journalist, Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean, are hanging on to every word as Cindy Rainne shares her journey. She talks about her life experiences including some of her experiences during her painfully complex childhood and how she changed her outlook on relationships with men.

Cindy demonstrates her resourceful when she details how she raised money to get her album/EP produced by a well-known producer in London, a feat no one thought she could pull off. If you don’t know by now, in the music industry and in life, the right relationships matter.

You can catch Cindy Rainne's next performance on Monday, June 17, 2019, at the Groove in New York City, and she will be traveling to perform in Switzerland this summer.

Follow Cindy @CindyRainne on Instagram and Facebook.

Check out Cindy Rainne's music video, Irresistible Me.

Also, have a listen to Cindy’s latest release, The Mask:

Cindy Rainne is truly an inspiration to anyone with a dream.

And, if you like being inspired, be sure to watch What's The 411's interview with FATi, the new Queen of AfroPop. 

We can definitely see these two ladies performing together in the future.

A perspective of the young Haitian immigrant experience in Brooklyn during the 1980s and 90s

I attended a VIP screening of The Haitian Polo Documentary, on behalf of What's The 411TV. Honestly, I have to admit, I hadn't read the documentary's background information before attending the screening. Even though I really thought it was going to be about Haitians playing polo, I was like, what the heck, I'll attend. Boy, oh, boy was I in for the rudest bad boy awakening ever.

The documentary quickly captivated me and took me back to parts of an era that I forgot existed. I grew up in Flatbush, as well as the East New York section of Brooklyn, and when I say the music, the stories, the history, the fashion, and the simple story of a people underscores the point that no matter where Haitian people land on this sometimes harsh planet, in the words of the late great Dr. Maya Angelo, "They Rise".

My wish in this article is to convey that The Haitian Polo Documentary brings to the forefront what a community had to endure to become the proud unapologetic, successful, and sophisticated people we see today. It was a hard road for Haitians in the "Big Dirty Apple" back in the 1980s and 90s. And The Haitian Polo Documentary touched on every aspect of that world for Haitians here in this city. And, I need to add; watching this documentary, you felt the pain, the pressure, and most importantly the truth.

During the 80s, I remember my favorite song had the lyrics, "don't use me, cause I'm close to the edge; I'm trying not to lose my head" and as I watched this documentary that song resonated in my spirit If you recall, I know I totally forgot, but the U.S. government claimed that Haitian men brought AIDS to America - that fact was totally discarded from my memory, but the documentary brought that and other concrete hard-to-face facts to the attention of the viewer. And, in view of the falsehoods that the US government leveled against Haitian people, in revolutionary fashion, the Haitians organized, shut down the Brooklyn Bridge and demanded, and received respect. It was similar regarding their fashion, they were picked on and ridiculed for what they wore to school and when Polo came on the scene, you knew Haitians as being one of the best dressed. Lo Lives is what they were called.

In a theater on a warm fall evening, this What's The 411TV correspondent fell in love with the strength and determination of a people that look like me, but bilingual and so fresh to death.

The Haitian Polo Documentary has enlightened, encouraged, inspired me, and also made me think about how I never thought about the pain of others during my youth. I wasn't the one that called out, "Haitian Booty Scratcher," but I was sure glad the "cool kids" were picking on Francois this week and not me. I recall growing up in the late 80s where drug dealers and fashionable ladies roamed the streets of New York. I recall the "Lo Lives" and the group of kids that would do anything to be fresh to death with the latest Ralph Lauren gear. However, I had no idea how deep that pain went for some of the people who came from a land many, many, miles away sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. I now know how badly they wanted to assimilate within U.S. society and how language was the greatest barrier that prevented them from fitting in, but fashion became an equalizer.

I recall when Haitians would never say they were Haitian. Think about the proud parents of those suffering children. Haitians are a proud people and they have the right to be proud. They are the only African descendants in the Western Hemisphere to gain their independence via revolution- that's some strong revolutionary blood. They were also France's contribution to help the Americans in their Revolutionary War against the British. And, now their offspring had to deal with issues of being dismissed by people who were ignorant of their history because of fashion, accents, and hairstyle.

When I sat down in that theater I had no idea what I was in for, but as I write this several weeks later, I can feel myself in the eighties rethinking my steps and the feeling of if I could have seen Francois for who he was and not for what he wore, I would have become better much sooner.

I can go on and on about The Haitian Polo Documentary and I would if I could. However, I will close by saying this, it isn't what the man puts on his body that makes him iconic, it's simply the drive in his spirit that makes his experience everlasting.

Well done Haitian Polo documentary, well done.

You can view The Haitian Polo Documentary trailer, below.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams is in the What's The 411Sports Dog House more for his on-court performance than the comments he made about Brooklyn (New York City) in Resident magazine.

Many Brooklyn Nets fans are disappointed with Deron Williams' performance for the past two seasons.

Many feel the Brooklyn Nets could have gone further in the playoffs had Williams been healthy and able to perform better.

Unfortuantely for Williams, the fans don't care about his ankle issues, what they want is performance for his five-year $98 million contract.

Perhaps, the fans will get production out of Williams this season since he has had surgery on both ankles and has been given the green light to play.

For Williams' adjustment to NYC, he admits to having a hard time adjusting to life in New York, saying "I don't really feel like a New Yorker."

"I grew up in an apartment in Texas where you could send your kids outside like, 'Yeah, go play in the sun.' Here it's more challenging," Williams said.

Williams lives in a fabulous pad in the Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street) area in Manhattan, which is home to Robert DeNiro and the Tribeca Film Festival.

It is asphalt and concrete and a far cry from Utah or parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, Nassau or Suffolk counties areas in New York with trees and grass.

For a person who likes grass and outdoor living, why Tribeca over areas he finds more favorable?

Just asking?

As my taxi pulled up to the Art Deco masterpiece, Skylight One Hanson, an event space like no other located in downtown Brooklyn in the world famous Williamsburg Savings Bank Clock-tower building, the stage was set for the Judgement of Brooklyn. A custom designed Lamborghini Murcielago decorated by Artist Rashaad Newsome was parked at the entry way. The automobile mirrored the opulence of Sklylight One Hanson's interior of mosaic murals, marble, and carved teller stations. The Judgement of Brooklyn has arrived. The first event of its kind in Brooklyn adapted from the original "Judgement of Paris '76 Tasting", created by Michael Brooks, Co-Owner of Bed-Vyne Brew and Bed-Vyne Wine.

Sponsored by numerous companies in the wine, beer, and lifestyle industry, folks from far and wide came to one of New York's hippest boroughs to partake in the festivities.

Tanya Jackson, daughter of Tito Jackson, promoting her new album came through by way of L.A. dressed in a gold gown, bringing a little extra bling to a momentous event.

Judge Jimmy Carbone, owner of Jimmy's No. 43 chatted holding a glass of beer. He wouldn't divulge his beer of choice but indicated they were all great. I guess we'll have to wait for the final results.

What's The 411TV correspondent Barbara Bullard with Jimmy Carbone, owner, Jimmy's No. 43. Photo Credit: Donna Leslie/What's The 411 Networks

James Tai, Certified Cicerone ® & BJCP Beer Judge divulged that his passion of beer came from his college days! I researched the meaning of "Cicerone". For novices like me, the word Cicerone (pronounced sis-uh-rohn) was chosen to designate those with proven expertise in selecting, acquiring, and serving today's wide range of beers. Go figure!

Among the list of sponsors VON Wine and Spirits gave a heads up on their new restaurant soon to open in Bedford Stuyvesant named Casablanca.

It was also great to see non-profit participation with "God's Love We Deliver" as a sponsor. The organization does such great work and its Director of Volunteer Services and Special Events, Steven Marion, came through to give Judgement of Brooklyn some love.

Jeff Kings Band performed an amazing set, which had people grooving while guests enjoyed their own samplings. An electronic voting system was provided so that guests could compare their own evaluations to those of the critics.

Last but not least, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams showed up bringing some Brooklyn love. The crowd got revved up with Brooklyn energy as the Brooklyn Borough President spoke about the future of Brooklyn.

Congratulations Judgement of Brooklyn! You have set the bar in a borough that continues to uplift and expand! Kudos! See ya'll next year!!!!!

Editor: Ruth J. Morrison

John Calipari checking out Jay Z and scoping the Barclays Center ahead of his Kentucky Wildcats taking the floor in a college basketball tournament showdown

As basketball lovers across the country are getting ready to watch the showdown between the cats and the dogs or, the Kentucky Wildcats and the UCONN Huskies, I'm going down memory lane to a first meeting of Kentucky Wildcats head basketball coach John Calipari.

It was the night of the Barclays Center opening. Music and business mogul, Jay Z was about to take the stage and perform, the first performer to do so. Coach Calipari was among the many that had come to the Barclays Center to celebrate a new beginning in Brooklyn and a new day of basketball in Brooklyn.

What's The 411TV, based in Brooklyn, NY, was out in full force on the red carpet and Coach Calipari stopped to chat it up with What's The 411SportsTV correspondent, Andrew Rosario.

So, what does Coach Calipari think of the new arena?

"Since we're going to be the first college game in here, I said I better get over here and see it (Barclays Center) and since Jay Z's on stage, I said I might as well do both."

Yes, basketball will be great in New York City with the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets battling it out.

"...that college game is going to be fun," said Calipari referencing the University of Kentucky's upcoming game at the Barclays Center and nicely reminding us that basketball professionals will be sharing the court with college kids.

With all new players, Kentucky was poised to face Maryland. Although Calipari lost his previous team, he remained optimistic saying, "it'll be fun."

Knowing that some of the kids on his team are from Nashville (Tennessee) and Arkansas, Calipari understands that when they arrive in New York City, it will be culture shock, but in Calipari's words, "it's going to be a great experience."

Is Calipari a Jay Z fan?

"Oh yeah, oh yeah; now he (Jay Z) came into our locker room and it cost him $50,000," Calipari said with a smile. "Now, I wonder if I go in his locker room, if it's going to cost me $50,000?"

By the way, I'm rooting for the freshmen (that's Kentucky if you're not a follower of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament).

Check out video interview with Coach John Calipari here:

Thank God, It's Friday, Right?

For the Brooklyn Nets this is game No.75, as they host the Detroit Pistons, and this final regular season series between both teams favored the Nets for the first time all-season, The Nets defeated the Pistons, 116-104.

After failing to extend their winning streak to four straight game after taking a trip across the river to face their brothers from another borough in the New York Knicks, the Nets returned home looking to avenge that 110-81 loss. Determined to right their wrongs and protect their home-court, the Nets did exactly that plugging the Pistons, 116-104.

In winning, the Nets extended its franchise record of consecutive wins at home to 15 straight games.

This is a Pistons team that the Nets have struggled against all year in all three of their previous affairs, losing all three contests.

No motivation needed.

Message received.

Timing is of the essence and with a playoff berth guaranteed in the Eastern Conference, the Nets will look to use these last few games as tune-up sessions to further enhance their overall play and performance as they envision a deep playoff run.

For all intended purposes, its game night and for those who missed tonight's action, this is what followed:

In the first half, following a 22 all conclusion of the first half, the Nets orchestrated a three-point barrage that gave them a comfortable advantage, achieving their highest point differential of 20 points.

Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and reserves Marcus Thornton and Mirza Teletovic all connected from behind the arc shooting 70% from three point range, 7-10, over a plus 5 min stretch, which aided the Nets improving their overall lead to 51-31 with 5:12 remaining in the second quarter.

Basketball is a game of runs, and like any other NBA team that enjoys an early substantial lead, the Nets botched their lead within the second quarter surrendering a 14-6 run courtesy of the Pistons who cut the deficit to 12, as the Nets progressed into the intermission period ahead 57-45.

And now your second half.

The Nets picked up where they left off in the first half, resuming their offensive efficiency from the field translating it to the second half.

The Pistons made an attempt to close the gap coming to within 10 points on an Andre Drummond put-back lay-up, now trailing 61 to the Nets 71 with 5:36 remaining in the 3rd, but their inability to produce stops on the defensive end of the floor only gave the Nets the benefit of the doubt in maintaining their lead.

With 5:13 left in the third quarter, a Brandon Jennings turnover was retrieved by Williams who spearheaded a one man fast-break converting on the opposite end via a lay-up while absorbing a foul by Jennings.

A three-point play was rewarded as Williams sank his +1, and on the ensuing Nets possession, a Pistons turnover resulted in another three from "MT3" the nickname appointed to Teletovic by the Nets game announcer, draining his sixth three-pointer of the the night thus far, with both sequences extending the Nets lead to 17, 78-61 with 4:37 until the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Nets Public announcer addresses the crowd in attendance at every home game before the start of the 4th quarter advising the audience to help encourage the Nets to attain victory against all of their opponents, and in ending his address, commands the thousands in the stands to "Stand UP".

As the crowd stood, the Nets raised their efforts and gave the fans something to cheer about in the closing minutes of the final quarter.

The Pistons made their final attempt to bring drama to this game, slicing the deficit to single digits, down 9 points, 96-87 by a made free throw from Jonas Jerebko with 7:08 existing in the 4th quarter.

Despite the Pistons mission, it came to no avail as an alley-oop pass from reserve Andrei Kirilenko to Shaun Livingston converting with a one-arm slam while being fouled by Jerebko, gave livingston a shot at a three-point play which he completed, increasing the Nets back to double-digits, leading 99-87, 6:57 left in the 4th.

More of the same followed from Livingston who connected on a turn-around bank shot with a little over 5 min remaining and a lane driving dunk with emphasis by Paul Pierce with 1:29 left till the resolution spelled their fate in a positive fashion.

The player of the game is reserve Teletovic, better known as "MT3", who continued to display his exploits from behind the arc and his reliability, adding six threes of ten to the Nets cause, leading all bench scorers with 20 points.

Livingston led all Nets players with 23 points alongside Williams in the starting unit, showcasing his skills that warranted NBA recognition when he was selected 4th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Immediately following the Nets win, Livingston shared his thoughts to media correspondents from the Nets locker-room regarding their performance at home.

"We've been playing well at this arena," says Livingston to media correspondents.

"I think it's a comfort zone and were just trying to build on the momentum that we have".

Like Livingston, Head Coach Jason Kidd also addressed his team's performance in his post-game press conference, which he commented on the success the Nets enjoyed from downtown.

"The one thing that leads to threes is everyone being unselfish," said Kidd to media correspondents.

"When you're unselfish like that, you get the looks that we're getting from behind the three," Kidd continued.

I'd say it's been a successful year for first year head coach Kidd, who's leading the same franchise that employed his services as a player and now as a coach to the playoffs in his initial head coaching gig.

The Nets stand motionless in seeding with the win, as they improve their overall regular season record to 41-34 currently cemented 5th in the eastern conference standings, looking up at the Chicago Bulls and ahead of the Washington Wizards.

Only seven games stand on the Nets schedule until the conclusion of their 2013-14 NBA campaign, embarking on a three-game road trip as they visit the likes of the Philadelphia 76ers tomorrow night, and back-to-back contest challenging the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic respectively.

The Nets have their postseason berth but the season isn't over.

These last few games feature what's wrong with the Eastern Conference and albeit a soft schedule ahead with the one exception in the Miami Heat, the Nets can utilize these games in integrating injured players like Kevin Garnett back into their rotations and fine tuning their overall team production.

With May in sight, it seems like everything is OK in Brooklyn, for now.

What's The 411, the weekly entertainment news and lifestyle television show, produced by Ruth J. Morrison, is now an award-winning entertainment news and lifestyle television show.

With 14 other honorees in its category, the show took home the coveted B FREE Award for news and information from the Brooklyn Public Network.

In the video below, Ruth J. Morrison, CEO and Founder, What's The 411 Networks and producer of What's The 411, takes us back to the early days through her acceptance speech as narration and a montage of video and photos of notables and celebrated personalities interviewed by What's The 411 reporters.

The video includes in order of appearance: actresses Susan Sarandon; Angelina Jolie; and Kimberly Elise; former U.S. President, Bill Clinton; the filmmakers of Love and the Small Print; comedian and actor Chris Rock; Ericka Pittman, Vice President, Blue Flame Agency; actor Malik Yoba; singer-actress Miesa and Melba Moore; legendary author and poet, Maya Angelou; actress Angela Bassett; New York Knicks fans (in happier days); Earvin "Magic" Johnson; singer-actress Jennifer Hudson; Blood, Sweat, and Heels reality TV star, Daisy Llewelyn; the legendary actress Cicely Tyson; actors Meryl Streep; Phylicia Rashad; Jamie Foxx; Denzel Washington; Halle Berry; Kerry Washington; Beyonce; and Samuel L. Jackson; New York Knicks President, Phil Jackson; tennis legend Billie Jean King; Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston; NFL Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson; NBA basketball players, Kevin Garnett; Paul Pierce; and Jason Terry; NFL football players, Victor Cruz; Eli Manning; and Peyton Manning; the Heisman Trophy; Texas A&M football player and Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel; boxers Mike Tyson and Sonya Lamonakis; Olympic Gold Medalist, Sanya Richards-Ross; and tennis great, Serena Williams.

Hosted by Bianca Peart, Glenn Gilliam, Jacinda Motton, and Kizzy Cox, What's The 411 airs nationwide on DISH TV's SimplyMe video on demand network and on Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. on Verizon FiOS Channel 43 in New York City.

Watch Video