December 19, 2019 

By Stacy M. Brown 

NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent 

 

Zozibini Tunzi said she grew up in a world where a woman who looks like her, was never considered beautiful.

 

On Sunday, December 8, the South Africa beauty queen was crowned Miss Universe.

 

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered beautiful,” Tunzi stated.

 

“I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face, and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine,” she added.

 

The 26-year-old from Tsolo, South Africa, speaks English and Isixhosa.

 

Tunzi’s official biography notes that she’s a passionate activist and engaged in the fight against gender-based violence. Tunzi has devoted her social media campaign to changing the narrative around gender stereotypes, and she said she’s a proud advocate for natural beauty.

 

Tunzi also works to encourage women to “love themselves the way they are,” she stated.

 

“Tonight, a door was opened, and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it,” Tunzi wrote on Twitter after being crowned Miss Universe 2019.

 

“May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams, and may they see their faces reflected in mine. I am Miss Universe 2019,” she stated.

 

Sofia Aragón of Mexico and Madison Anderson of Puerto Rico were the two runners-up in the pageant.

December 19, 2019 

By Stacy M. Brown 

NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent 

 

Famed Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump has written a new book that examines the troubling history of environmental racism in America.

 

"Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People," the 272-page book that's already the top seller on Amazon.com in the category of Civil Rights Law, tackles how environmental racism pertains to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey.

 

In the book, Crump explores how marginalized communities largely are overlooked by the institutions charged with protecting them.

 

Crump also summarizes the state of civil and environmental rights in the U.S.

 

As he prepared a return to Flint, Crump vowed to avoid distractions, including a recent $100 million lawsuit filed by George Zimmerman against the attorney and the parents of Trayvon Martin.

 

"The parents of Trayvon Martin and I don't want to give any attention to this frivolous and unfounded lawsuit at all. We believe attention is what he's seeking," Crump stated.

 

"It's so asinine that the actions of the killer of their teenage son will continue to devastate them over and over again. Every year he comes up with something like the selling of the gun. It's just horrific what this individual does. We rather focus on something more important, like in Flint, and this guy is only a distraction," Crump noted.

 

Crump's return to Flint, where he planned to hold rallies over two days to keep attention on the continued water crisis, comes nearly four years after he and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons went house-to-house delivering water to families throughout the city.

 

"We found out that not only was there a water crisis, but Flint was a food desert," Crump stated. "So, we have to focus on this because it's important. We have children who have problems with brain development because they were poisoned by the government wantonly."

 

While Crump's new book digs deeper into the Flint crisis, it also explores racism across the country.

 

In one section of "Open Season," Crump talks about one of the incidents that inspired him to continue his work as a civil rights attorney.

 

"When we were in Ferguson, Missouri, in the aftermath of the killing of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed in broad daylight, there were these young Black Lives Matter activists who refused to let them sweep Michael Brown's life under the rug," Crump stated.

 

"The government called in the National Guard. And I remember being there with the media and the crowds of people and the National Guard with militarized and an assault rifles," he stated.

 

Crump continued:

 

And you have these young people without fear. And this one brother specifically walked right up to the National Guard, who has their rifle trained on him. The man's face was practically touching the tip of the rifle, but he just had enough at that moment.

 

"He said, with the rifle in his face, 'go ahead and shoot me with all these cameras here, because you're going to shoot us anyway when they go away, so shoot and kill me now so the people can see how you kill us.'

 

"I thought that was riveting because I said he's right. It is important that people see how they're killing us. But not just with bullets in the police shooting cases, but more poignant, how they kill us every day in every city, in every state, in every courtroom in America legally with these trumped-up felony convictions."

 

With the book, Crump stated that he seeks to hold a mirror to the face of all Americans and force them to acknowledge the hypocrisy.

 

"You have to at least acknowledge the racism and discrimination in the institutions of governance. If you don't ever admit it, we can never solve the problem," he stated.

 

It took about three years for Crump to write "Open Season," and he called it one of the most challenging tasks he's undertaken.

 

"You sit there and remember all those things that have happened to black and brown people in this country, and it just breaks your heart," Crump stated.

 

"Over and over again, no matter what the situation is, for people of color, we get the most injustice," Crump stated.

 

"You can give me any situation, and they will find a way to make sure that marginalized people of color don't get equal justice. "That's what we have to fight against. That's what we're fighting against in Flint, Newark, Baltimore, Washington, and other communities," he said.

 

Crump continued:

 

"If this water crisis in Flint would have happened in a white community, it would be a national catastrophe. Lightning would strike and thunder would boom. I mean people would go to jail. "But, because it's a majority-minority community, it's almost as if Americans don't know it happened. They say, 'it doesn't affect me, just those black and brown people, so it doesn't matter.'"

 

"Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People" is available at Amazon.com and other outlets.

December 19, 2019 

Aries 

MAR 21 - APR 19 

There is definite potential for you and a friend or someone you meet socially to casually hook up this week. Just be aware that if you go that route, it might end up eroding some of your self-worth rather than feeding it. That's not what you'll think of when you are in the moment, though. It's more likely that you'll be swept away in the moment and the heat of passion will be all you focus on ... it'll be after that when you realize you might have made an indiscretion rather than a smart move. Oh, Aries. Your impulsive nature can be such a gift, but this week? Not so much.

 

Taurus 

APR 20 - MAY 20 

The bond you feel now to your partner is more intense than ever. In fact, you might feel a level of extreme passion and attachment that is feeding your body and soul in a way you truly never experienced before. Allowing yourself the liberation to free yourself from whatever societal or traditional upbringing told you what love "should be" is a key theme in this equation. The kind of love that makes you come alive is meant to be sprinkled with a little more complication and a little less predictability. This week, you're in for some extra sprinkles on your romantic ice cream sundae. Enjoy!

 

Gemini 

MAY 21 - JUN 20 

There might be a confusing scenario between you and your mate this week. Mercury is moving through your relationship sector and, typically, this would add support to your relationship since you and your partner are more likely to enjoy conversations and find it easier to make decisions together. This Friday, however, Mercury will be at a tense square to nebulous Neptune, sending mixed signals every which way. You might not have the easiest time conveying what you really want to and you might even feel as if your partner is holding information from you. You could be right.

  

Cancer 

JUN 21 - JUL 22 

This week you and your partner can look forward to some sexy time together! Venus moves into the most erotic part of your chart on Friday: your 8th House of Intimacy. In the sign Aquarius, it's very possible that you and your lover will want to experiment with some sex toys or do something else that you would normally consider kinky and out of your comfort zone. Do it! Mars is still in your house of romance, helping to strengthen your libido and, on Sunday, will be at a great angle to Pluto, the planet that intensifies everything it touches. Translation? Let's get it on!

 

Leo 

JUL 23 - AUG 22 

You are ready to embrace the grooviest kind of love there is, Leo. It's the kind of love that brings you into that feeling of being able to fly and go anywhere you want to in life. It's liberating, not suffocating. It's friendly, not stingy. It's supportive, not conditional. That's what happens when Venus moves into high-minded Aquarius this Friday. She'll enter your partnership sector, which will provide an opportunity for remarkable support in matters of the heart. Respecting your lover's differences is all you need to remember to do. After all, the differences are what make this love so exciting.

 

Virgo 

AUG 23 - SEP 22 

You might not see this coming, Virgo, but that is exactly what will make it so exciting. Someone you work with might unexpectedly reveal that he or she has a major crush on you. Another possibility is that you already have an office romance happening and think that it won't affect your job in any way. Surprise! This week you might find out that the exact opposite is happening. You and your lover might have a fight and suddenly find yourselves creating tons of drama at the office. Avoid bringing your love affair into work if at all possible. And definitely avoid gossiping to your coworkers about it. That won't end well!

 

Libra 

SEP 23 - OCT 22 

Your love life is about to take a fascinating turn. On Friday, Venus moves into your romance sector and, through January 13, you'll feel a great deal of positive energy around dating opportunities. If you're someone who usually isn't into the whole dating scene, you may now find that you're more open to stretching out of your comfort zone to meet and mingle with new people. If you're already in a relationship, you might find Sunday to be a surprising jolt to your relationship. Either you or your lover might have another option. What will you do?

  

Scorpio 

OCT 23 - NOV 21 

You and your sweetheart will be completely focused on domestic matters and nesting together in your shared comfort zone this week. If you're dating someone and things are going well, then this might be a good time to introduce each other to your families or consider moving in together. The relationship is ready to evolve to this level and you both feel comfortable enough with each other to make any necessary adjustments. If you're already cohabitating, then you and your love might decide to spend major money on a decorating project or renovation. You may even want to turn your house into a smart home or go as green as possible. Nice!

 

Sagittarius 

NOV 22 - DEC 21 

Speaking from the heart will be much easier for you once Venus enters your message sector on Friday. If you've been holding back your feelings for someone, or if you've hesitated having that conversation about where the relationship is going, all that will change. Fortunately, you will find that it's very easy to make logical decisions that are grounded in what you know is best for each of you in the relationship. Decisions that will support the individuality of each other as well as your mutual partnership are easiest to reach now. And yes, that will make you feel the love even more.

  

Capricorn 

DEC 22 - JAN 19 

You and your lover might have a brilliant idea this week to start an innovative creative endeavor together that has the potential to make both of you a nice chunk of change. Be aware, however, that in your enthusiasm, you might rush into this, only to find out you have to lay out some major money in order to get the ball rolling. Another possibility is that you will find yourself in an icky situation with someone you're dating. This person might ask you for money out of the blue, leaving you completely shocked. Unless, of course, you're into the whole sugar daddy or mama thing.

  

Aquarius 

JAN 20 - FEB 18 

You are like Sleeping Beauty this week, waking up from a long slumber and finally realizing that love is truly all around you. Venus finishes up her tour in your 12th House of Solitude on Friday, so any of the uncertainty, fantasy, and delusions or disappointment you have felt about your romantic world are about to melt away. Once Venus enters your sign, it's a whole different story -- the kind of fairytale where someone really does see you, adore you, and value you. The best part? You're not sleeping anymore. You're completely awake.

 

Pisces 

FEB 19 - MAR 20 

This is a week when it might be good for your love life if you become more reclusive and disappear for a bit. Going within and doing any necessary soul searching can help you figure out whether or not you're wasting your time on that special someone in your life or if you're making a smart emotional investment. It's not always easy to see your love life clearly and, because of this, now is a good time to seek counseling so that you can talk through the blind spots. You know you have them. We all do.