John Legend's Sexiness Outshines Toxic Masculinity

When you hear the name John Legend, singer, songwriter, and activist are just a few titles that come to mind and now he's landed one of America's most coveted titles. People magazine has named John Legend as 2019's sexiest man alive and surprisingly the people aren't too pleased. No sooner than the news was announced many social media users voiced their disappointment; some comments were funny, some were cruel but collectively they pointed out the all too familiar trend in the black community of equating a black man's sexiness to his level of toxic masculinity.

Toxic masculinity is defined as the adherence to specific gender roles placed on males, such as a restriction and suppression of pleasant emotions, with the exception of expressing anger, and the expectation that men always seek to be the dominant male. Social media posts, and memes aside, the sentiments were only echoed by Wendy Williams, who gave the perfect illustration of how toxic masculinity still plagues African Americans to this day. While discussing the singer's newest milestone the talk show host spewed her toxic view to her audience stating, "when I think about a sexy man I’m not thinking John Legend...I need a man who’s gonna punch someone in the face."

Yes, this Black woman told her largely white audience that she didn't find a black man sexy because of his lack of aggressive behavior. Toxic masculinity at its finest. Interestingly enough, Legend was raised in the Black church, an environment with a stark contract to settings where toxic masculinity is prevalent and nurtured.

As sexiness is subjective, there have been many who have come to the singer's defense, either supporting the magazine's decision or calling out the toxicity of other social media users. One Twitter user perfectly pointed out the hypocrisy of many naysayers.

What do you think? Does John Legend fit your definition of sexy?

Tank Discusses Sexual Fluidity

This week, singer and sex symbol Tank set the internet ablaze, once again, with his comments surrounding sexuality. Previously the unapologetic R&B crooner was catapulted into the spotlight of public opinion when he spoke out in support of his LGBT fans and decided to perform at DC Black Pride in 2017. Now the singer has once again drove his heterosexual fans into a frenzy with his comments about sexuality among men and experiences with other men.

On October 21st, speaking with Angela Yee and co host on her Lip service podcast, early into the interview the conversation segwayed when Yee pushed the conversation further when she asked "what if a dude sucks a dick once, does that make him gay?" And of course candidly stating, " He sucked dick once, right? Then, he's like I'm not sure if I liked it or not. Let me try it again," and upon not liking it, "it doesn't mean he's gay... the art of being gay is being gay. It's a continuious state of being." Naturally the star was met with mixed reaction afterward, sparking an ongoing debate.

Tank, like many other Black male celebrities, read more here, is helping to change and improve the conversation surrounding homosexuality. Exploring ones sexuality, no matter the age, and engaging in a sexual act with someone of the same sex doesn't eternally etch one's sexuality into stone. Sexuality is fluid and there should be no shame or stigma engaging in something to decide if it's something you like. Challegnging the stigma of black sexuality has been an ongoing fight. The subject has also been touched on through other outlets such as Issa Rae's series Insecure.

Furthering the conversation only helps to end the stigma once and for all, and that only helps makes the world a better and less judgemental place.

A Black Gay Dating App Is Overdue

Anyone who has ever used the app Grindr knows that many of the the predominant users aren't shy about their racism. Any random profile is likely to have a disclaimer of not into blacks, only into whites or something much more racist, as they hide behind a shirtless and faceless profile. It's a common trend that to this day has yet to be addressed by the creators of the app. That may change soon with the findings of a 2019 study on the app that's found a correlation between experience racism on the app and the effects it has on mental health.

According to a newly released study, research from one thousand Grindr users concluded that men of color experience a significant amount of racism as compared to their White peers. Furthermore, experiencing such racism on the app and others like it can lead to diminished mental health and lower life satisfaction. While this isn't at all surprising, the million dollar question is why hasn't Grindr done anything to seriously combat the racism many experience on the app? Yes, Grindr launched its Kindr initiative to discourage the use of racist language and be nice to one another online but that doesn't does anything to actually help end racism on the app. If the developers were really serious a full ban on any type of discrimination and, or, racism displayed on profiles would be placed. If a user were to violate then he would be suspended or removed like on apps such as Twitter and Facebook.

Grindr is overdue to fully address the issue of racism and the fact that they haven't is very telling. But this leads me to wonder, where are the apps that cater to and are also owned and developed by Black gay man? Surprisingly, despite catering to white gay men, the app Grindr was actually developed by Israel born Joel Simkhai. Even Jackd, the leading app among black gay men, is an extension of Online Buddies, the same developers behind the website Manhunt which also caters to predominantly white gay men.

Undoubtedly the best way to combat racism, and the lack of its correction, on Grindr and other similar apps is ultimately to develop our own. Slap on a ban to "no fat, no fem" also and it can be the next big app but most importantly the best app for Black gay men. Hmmm maybe I see a new career on the horizon...

Changing the Conversation of Black Homosexuality

Black men are stepping to the forefront to help change the narrative surrounding LGBT existence and acceptance within the African American community. There are two major misconceptions regarding homosexuality in the African American community. One, that our community is somehow more homophobic than any other ethnic group and two, have only helped to nuture and enforce homophobia for generations with black gay men carrying the weight of the argument. This misconception has been enforced for generations through religion and the media but as we near the end of 2019 however Black men are now stepping to the forefront to combat this misconception and change the narrative about homophobia and its existence in the Black community.

Recently the rapper Jidenna did an interview with Sway's Universe where he discussed the presence of homosexuality existing in Africa long before the invasion of Europeans, combating the myth that homosexuality was something introduced. "If you go to Zimbabwe...you'll see homosexual acts in cave paintings...there was never a time where this didn't exist, or where it was hands down that homosexuals were wrong." Jidenna, born in Nigeria, is the perfect person to shed light on the subject to his American fanbase.

As an ally of the LGBT community he's very aware of the daily struggles of Black men facing homophobia within the African American community. The artist even touched on the recent suicide of Maurice Willoughby, the young man who committed suicide after being bullied on the internet and in his everyday life for dating a transgendered woman. Speaking on his suicide and the circumstances that led up to it, he questioned whether the bullying is what ultimately led to his drug addiction and abuse of his girlfriend before eventually overdosing.

Maurice Willoughby 

The existence of homophobia within the African American community created the environment for this young man to be bullied into suicide simply for loving someone. Long have black men, and celebrities, been shamed for their attraction to transwomen but finally a celebrity is speaking out to also combat that taboo.

Addressing Maurice Willoughby's suicide as well, Malik Yoba shared a lengthy post where he addressed how intolerance led to the circumstances of Willoughby's suicide, "...the uniformed young men around him haven't been taught by us that love and acceptance if Trans love is ok..." The actor also announced his support of trans attracted individuals and came out as a trans attracted individual himself ending the post with, "as a self identified cis heterosexual man I too am learning what it means to be trans attracted. Many of us famous and otherwise that have struggled with accepting our attraction so we do nothing. This must change."

With entertainers like both Jidenna and Malik Yoba using their platform to lead these discussions and promote change maybe this much needed change isn't far away and more  Black Male celebrities will join in on the conversation. You can check out Jidenna's full interview below.

Jay-Z vs the World

Hip Hop mogul Jay-Z, real name Sean Carter, is making headlines for his controversial deal with the NFL. Rightly so, the NFL has been cancelled by many African Americans and allies in an act of support for Colin Kaepernick. Since his firing, #boycottNFL started trending and many influential people voiced their support, but now Carter who was once one of Kaepernick's biggest supporters has had a change of heart and has signed a deal to partner with the NFL.

The partnership gives the artist input on entertainment at every NFL event, and will potentially make him the first African American owner in the leagues nearly 100 year old history. Impressive as it may be, many are finding the gesture contradictory to his previous support of Kaepernick. Following the announcement many on social media, including fellow artists and friends, have voiced their disapproval of the decision. When questioned about previous support of Kaepernick Carter responded, "I think we're past kneeling," and that it's now "time for action." What's missing from the response however is what action he is taking to actively change the environment of the NFL, or more specifically the treatment of Black players within the league,  nor has the artist elaborated on how and if the league is doing anything to combat social injustice that continues to plague the country.

I'm all for a Black man getting a check, but never at the expense of his integrity. Ever since the deal has been made public Carter's team has good in defense mode, especially in regard to Carter stating that he'd spoken with Kaepernick regarding the deal. To correct the misdirection his team released a statement clarifying that although Carter did speak with Kaepernick, it wasn't until after the deal and that even then the conversation was not about the deal. Let's be clear, no one is saying that Jay-Z doesn't deserve a seat at the table, however one can't criticize the table and then happily pull up a seat when there has not been any changes to the spread.

Female Rap Renaissance

To call it a comeback would be inaccurate as female rap has been on a rise for years. And now with a record breaking number of 7 female rap artists making it onto Billboard's Hot 100 list, it's safe to say that the hip hop community is experiencing a renaissance when it comes to female rap music. Previously the highest number of female rap acts on the chart was at 6, for 2016 and 2017, and if this is any indication of what the final quarter of the year may look like then it is highly likely continuing forward this number will only rise.

The females dominating the charts thus far are the duo Cardi B (11), Nicki Minaj (3), City Girls (2), Megan thee Stallion (2), Iggy Azalea (1), and new comers Lizzo (2), and Saweetie (1), providing the charts with a strong mixture of Hip Hop and Pop, proving that female rap is much more than "strippers rapping."

The charts aren't the only reflection of female talent  this year, with Dreezy's "Close to You" being certified Gold, and feats such as this years XXL including a record 3 women in the magazine's annual freshman class; Megan, Tierra Whack, and Rico Nasty.

I'm hoping these ladies and more find themselves making chart history. And as a bonus Remy Ma is officially off probation and can now work and tour without restrictions on travel or touring.

Blade Rebooted Starring Mahershala Ali

Fifteen years after the final installment, Marvel is ready to rebrand the Blade franchise and fully incorporate the hero into the MCU. The three previous films starred Wesley Snipes and when news first started circling many believed that the actor would be reprising the role. However, it has been officially announced at the San Diego Comic con that the franchise is getting fresh blood with the casting of Mahershala Ali as the titular hero. Ali is no stranger to Marvel, having previously portrayed the villain Cottonmouth on the Netflix series Luke Cage, and has gained a large fanbase thanks to his role in the movies Moonlight, and The Greenbook, so this only adds to the buzz surrounding the future film.

Given how tightly woven the MCU is, and the theory that Spider man will be the anchor of the universe, my first thought was that the best villain choice would be Morbius, a character who has crossed paths with both Blade and Spider Man in the comics. This is tricky given that Jared Leto is currently cast as the character for a stand alone film by Fox set to debut next year but with Marvel you never. know. Of course, since the original Blade trinity practically chronicled the life of Blade's mentor Whistler Marvel could opt to focus on the hero's origin. Details are scarce at this point, and even with the announcement of the 8 films of Phase 4 Blade isn't listed, so we probably won't see anything until late 2020 or early 2021 potentially making it part of Phase 5.

The original Blade trilogy grossed more than a combined $415 million at the box office and paved the way for the modern day superhero movie genre.

A Win for being Black and Conscious

The NFL, Colin Kaepernick, and Eric Reid have finally reached a settlement over a lawsuit claiming teams of the league colluded to deny either a contract after both players kneeled during the national anthem. It was an act that sparked national protests and linked Kaepernick to protesting the national anthem instead of police brutality. Interestingly enough Kaepernick has been kept out of the NFL since 2017 while Reid was eventually able to sign with the Carolina Panthers. The settlement comes two years later and surely will serve as vindication for Kaepernick being denied to both earn an income and play the sport he loves.

As expected, the amount of the settlement remains undisclosed and the terms are subject to a confidentiality agreement, but according to the Associated Press, "the settlement could have climbed into the tens of millions."

Not playing in the NFL did nothing to stop Kaepernick's activism, momentum with community outreach, or popularity amongst his fans. After being blackballed by the NFL, Kaepernick was named GQ's Citizen of the Year and became the face of Nike's 2018 "Just Do It" campaign. And in the case of cosmic justice, the Colorado Spring's Prime Time Sports store that boycotted Kaepernick and removed all its Nike items in protest is now closing. The owner Stephen Martin believes his protest of Nike played a major factor in the store's closing.

While I am happy that both players received their due pay, there's a part of me that wishes that they wouldn't have taken the deal. Although reaching a settlement certainly points to guilt on the part of the NFL I believe it would have been more satisfying for the NFL to have to reveal all of their dirt and dirty tactics to keep the players out of the league. This confidentiality agreement limits both men from ever being able to speak any truths about the situation, which of course is part of the NFL's motive. Reports have begun to surface that Kaepernick is interested in returning to the field with the Carolina Panthers the top name being considered at the time. Whatever he does decide to do going forward Conscious America will surely continue to stand with him.

Jess Hilarious: Just a Mess

With homophobic thoughts and comments ending careers left and right nowadays, one would think that celebrities would be more cautious of their words, especially when it comes to the usage of social media. It seems as if every week there’s a new person in the hot seat for either their past or current comments; this week’s celebrity facing the wrath of the internet is comedian Jess Hilarious. Known mostly for her shade room commentary on Instagram, the comedian responded to a comment on a post, allowing her inner homophobia fly.

When fans began to call her out for usage of the slur, Jess initially doubled down with her comments, void of any remorse. It wasn’t until the sparks of a backlash grew into a wildfire that she offered an apology to the LGBT community, although there was no mention of the male she actually insulted.

While Jess has enjoyed a small rise to fame, comments such as these will undoubtedly stall, if not completely stop, her from reaching A-list celebrity status.

Black History Month Racism Rise

To say February has been purposed as a month to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans, the first half of the month has been filled with controversial news stories that are reminiscent of post-abolition America. These stories continue to showcase the racist and highly dangerous world we African Americans live in. Such stories have highlighted ongoing issues with corporate racism and their lack of diversity, colorism, and other daily struggles of African Americans. It’s Black history month and America is reminding us she’s still as racist as ever.

Unprovoked Attacks

When slavery was abolished in 1865 the world became an even more dangerous for African Americans. Released into a land filled with contempt for the mere existence, African Americans were faced with violence, fires, and bombings by neighbors, random strangers, and groups like the KKK. A Black person could just be walking and attacked by a white person, and the act and thought process is still occurring to this day.

While making the rounds of his press tour for his new film, the actor revealed to the world that he once harbored thoughts of killing a Black man, and actually roamed the streets, armed with a club with the intentions of doing so. This occurred after learning that a good friend of his was attacked and raped by a stranger who happened to be black. According to Neeson, learning of this was enough to trigger the actor to go out for a week patrolling the streets with hopes of encountering a “black bastard” who would randomly start trouble with him (because that’s what Black men do) so he could kill him. Naturally, following the public backlash, the actor began his apology tour, where he reinforced his previous comments while also assuring that he was cured of such thoughts after seeking therapy and using power walking as an outlet.

Regardless of how one chooses to label Neeson’s comments, rather they are racist or not, what cannot be misconstrued is the fact for many African American’s skin color alone is enough to prompt a random, racist attack. Ironically Neeson’s comments come a little after a week following singer and actor Jussie Smollett allegedly attacked by a group of white men. Funny enough, however, Smollett’s encounter was met with criticism from some who questioned the authenticity of an unprovoked racial attack. For any who may believe that the idea of white men targeting and leading an unprovoked attack is too unrealistic for today’s society, refer to Liam Neeson.   

Black Face Mockery

It’s Black History Month 2019 and there are still people in the world who are still refusing to acknowledge the racist history and imagery of blackface. Minstrel shows date back to before slavery was abolished, and used to insult African Americans and portraying the group as lazy buffoons. While the racist act normally doesn’t have to be addressed until Halloween the conversation has trickled over into the New Year with yet another international fashion brand invoking blackface imagery for the sake of sales.

Gucci set social media ablaze when images of a black face inspired sweater appeared on the company’s website. After the fashion brand was swiftly called out for the racist imagery the sweater was immediately removed from the website, followed by the usual generic apology. This comes only a few months after Prada faced backlash for using similar imagery for a product. If the sweater wasn’t enough of a fashion insult, Katy Perry released a new shoe that has many calling out its racist imagery. This item was also removed from the host website, but there hasn’t been any official word from Katy Perry yet.

 Colorism

Colorism is the discrimination of one based on skin tone. In Black and Latino communities, it’s a belief that fairer or lighter skinned individuals are better and more desirable than other members of ethnic communities. It’s a practice found predominately in areas that were colonized. It grew from slavery and plantations to extend to Greek organization on college campuses and is still used as a marketing strategy for companies. As damaging as colorism is for people of color we’re seeing proof that the mindset will be carried into the next generation.

NFL player Jahleel Addae and his Caucasian wife are receiving backlash after the couple uploaded a video of themselves and friends toasting to having more light-skinned children in the future. As swiftly as the video was uploaded,  Addae made his Instagram private to protect himself against was sure to be great ridicule from members of various ethnic groups. Even if the player does speak out and apologize it won’t change anything, we know how he feels now about himself and his race. 


Hopefully, the second half of the month will be more uplifting for African Americans.

Christian Keyes Is An Artist Not Ally.

While it's no secret that Hollywood loves casting heterosexuals to portray homosexual characters, one would think that most, if not all, actors who take on these roles would be 100% secure with their sexuality. Unfortunately, even in 2019 the male heterosexual ego remains fragile as ever, as showcased by actor Christian Keyes recent rant on Instagram where he addressed the unwelcomed attention he receives from gay men on his social media accounts. Link to video below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Br9tD4UgBMR/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=3kgpgytmez4e

 Aside from respecting his sexual preference, Keyes rant is damaging as it only further demonstrates the issues of casting non homosexuals to portray homosexual roles in film and television. As much as these actors respect others truths and appreciate the support the truth is often very few are allies of the LGBT Community. Surely Keyes knows he is not the first heterosexual male to be ogled and hit on by fans of the same sex. Heterosexual stars like actor Ryan Reynolds and R&B singer Tank are well known for embracing gay fans without taking offense to flirtatious behavior. Instead of ignoring male advances, or being flattered to receive them, Keys has to defend his fragile sexuality and in turn only alienates his fans and showcases a degree of homophobia.

The best thing Keyes could have done in this situation was to just ignore any and all messages received by males after all, at this point in his career any interesting opportunities wouldn't and shouldn't be presented via his inbox. Given that Keyes portrays a gay man on the CW series Legends of Tomorrow, one doesn't know how his comments will effect his work going forward considering Hollywood's low tolerance for any type of homophobia, no matter how blanketed they may be.