Fake apologies and #fraudbae: All the news you need to read this week

What’s in an apology? As the media spotlight dims on Cornerstone Caroline, the nine-year-old black boy Jeremiah Harvey she falsely accused of sexual assault is still plagued by intense fear and trauma. Troublingly, similar lies have seen black children murdered, notably the lynching that sent shockwaves around black America in 1955: Emmett Till. But when she apologised her young victim was firm. “I don’t forgive this woman, and she needs help,” Jeremiah Harvey told New York’s ABC 7 News.

Over in the UK, David Mesher, the racist who shouted horrific abuse at a disabled black woman on a Ryanair flight met with his PR and finally squeezed an apology out, that was shortly followed up with “I’m not racist”. Which is why the 77-year-old victim Delsie Gayle rejected Mesher’s half arsed atonement. When we spoke to David Lawrence, who filmed the encounter, he likened it to a “modern-day lynching”. “Thank god for the camera phone,” he said. “Can you imagine if Rosa Parks had a camera phone?”

The broadcasted nature of the race rows of late cannot be ignored. Mesher’s words echoed around the world as the video reached over 3 million views, any public apology is likely a desperate attempt to claw back some respect and save face. Likewise Kanye’s tweets about him finally seeing the light claiming to have been “used” politically is timed perfectly for the release of his upcoming album and the news that Yeezy drops just aren’t selling like they used to. An apology just won’t cut it when it’s filmed and framed to restore your glory – keep the same energy you did with your scandals and broadcast your newfound views on the toxicity of white supremacy, demonstrate a real change of heart if you’re so sorry. Cue One Republic “It’s too late tapologise”. Here’s what else came up:

Dancehall star Spice stays on top of the game with her colourism hoax

Dancehall singer Spice, aka Grace Hamilton, shocked her fans when replaced her entire Instagram feed with a photo of her with her skin ‘bleached’ and with blonde hair. The Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star, from Jamaica, captioned the photo “Nothing wrong with a fresh start’, prompting fans to despair at her ‘lost’ dark-skinned beauty.”

However, she’s now revealed it was all a hoax. “While it appeared as if I had ‘bleached’ my skin, causing a worldwide debate, and even though the picture was obviously birthed around my single titled ‘Black hypocrisy’ and my mixtape Captured, I want to openly say it was not a “publicity stunt”. I wanted to create awareness to ‘Colorism’”

It figures just as much since the lyrics in her latest track “Black Hyprocrisy” include self love of her “strong melanin”. “I’m black and beautiful, I know I’m pretty; Fuck the whole of dem dirty inequity.” Well, her new look certainly boosted her profile as she debuted number one on the US and UK Itunes reggae chart.

View this post on Instagram

On October 22nd I posted a picture of myself where i looked like I altered my appearance and metamorphosis to match the “Eurocentric beauty standards”. I fearlessly addressed an issue that has been swept under the rug and boldly took the stance in bringing a taboo topic to the fore front. I chose to do this in the manner I did because I believe Colorism is plagiarizing our black community. While It appeared as if I had “bleached” my skin, causing a world wide debate, and even though the picture was obviously birthed around my single titled“Black hypocrisy” and my mixtape Captured.I want to openly say it was not a “publicity stunt”. I wanted to create awareness to “Colorism” and it was more so done intentionally to create shock value so that I could have the worlds undivided attention to deliver the message in my music. There are dark skin women across the world complaining every day that they are being downplayed and degraded, but the raw truth is it is us “black women” and “black men” that are fighting against each other and tearing down our own race. It’s evident in the social media comments every day, I myself have lived through it all being downgraded by my dark complexion. Would the message in my song have been received as well as it did world wide if I didn’t go to the extreme with the picture? The truth is no it would have probably been just another Spice hit song; so yes I had to go the extra mile to ensure my message be heard. Most people got a misconception that I was boosting “Skin bleaching” but ironically it was the opposite. I used myself as an example of what people from the black community is causing other women to do because of how society makes them feel. Yes “Black is beautiful” we say it every day but are we showing love to our black women? This topic is long and I could spread it so far but mi tired fi type Lol. The fact is Colorism is happening in the homes ,school and businesses but I’ll leave it till my next post. To put a end to the debate “I DID NOT BLEACH MY SKIN” and I quote “Proud a mi color, love mi pretty black skin, respect due to mi strong melanin” words from my “Black Hypocrisy” song that I wrote from my heart.

A post shared by Grace Hamilton (@spiceofficial) on Nov 2, 2018 at 8:36am PDT

New satellite images are the first glimpse of China’s Muslim camps

China’s prison camps where Muslims, or Uyghurs, are allegedly forced and tortured have been exposed by the BBC with new satellite images.

An investigation using satellite images has shed light on dozens of the suspected prison camps that the government are calling ‘vocational training centres’ set up to allegedly combat the spread of extremism. The shocking satellite image from Sentinel taken this month shows the large prison-type structures with 16 watchtowers which are exclusively created for Xinjiang’s Muslim minorities whose first language is not Chinese.

The Chinese government has routinely denied locking up Muslims without trial but openly use the decoy of ‘education’ to explain the facilities. However, a special report from gal-dem print lifts the lid on the camps and speaks to people who have actually been held there.

ICYMI

London’s Metropolitan Police is making concerning efforts to mimic New York’s police department with the release of merchandise including branded clothing, toys, games, stationary, homeware, and souvenir items in a bid to improve the Met’s image and raise income.
Bristol’s Rastafarian race relations advisor who was wrongly tasered last year when police officers mistook him for a wanted criminal has been targeted again by police confusing him with the same person again.
Marvel actor Frank Grillo has hinted that the next Captain America actor could be African American or a female.
The NHS has pledged to eliminate the ethnicity pay gap with BAME representation in senior leadership to match that across the rest of the NHS by 2028.
The “My Yé is different to your Yé,” meme is stuck in the head of thousands

Moment of the week

This thread about Michael Modern aka #FraudBae will make you never want to look in a man’s direction ever again:

**Part 1**
Aight, Boom, so this is a thread about how @michael_modern stole my bank details and spent over £1200 of MY money to impress HIS girlfriend, including receipts.
Story time ☕️ sit tight. I have time today. pic.twitter.com/HdrisWOWML

— NeeCee ✨ (@blessed_angell) October 31, 2018

**Part 2**

It wasn’t even about the money anymore, somebody needs to humble this guy… it’s principle!

Whether I got the money back or not is totally irrelevant at this point.

He underestimated me and insulted my intelligence, that shit can’t run.

Today he has met his match! pic.twitter.com/qhad2fpIIK

— NeeCee ✨ (@blessed_angell) October 31, 2018