Welcome to my newsletter by me, King Williams. A documentary filmmaker, journalist, podcast host, and author based in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a newsletter covering the hidden connections of Atlanta to everything else.
1. Happy International Women’s Day
Today is March 8th, International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is a hallmark of Women’s History Month, a celebration of women across the globe.
The first Women’s Day
International Women’s Day owes a great deal of its development from two early 1900s political factions: the suffragettes and the socialists. The earliest movement towards international women’s day started with the European suffrage movement in England in 1903. This movement for gender equality took hold in Europe and America. At the same time overlapped with the industrial revolution, political changes in Europe, and an increase in women as members of the workforce.
The first observance of Women’s History occurred on February 28th, 1909 in New York City by the Socialist Party of America. A year later German socialist members at the International Socialist Women’s Conference proposed the idea of a specialized ‘women’s day’, a year later, in 1911, the first International Women’s Day was observed.
Women’s History Week to Women’s History Month
The first national recognition of Women’s History Week came under president Jimmy Carter during the week of March 8th, 1980. It was named Women’s History Month in 1987 by Congress. Since then, Women’s History Month has become recognized in the US, UK, and Australia. While International Women’s Day has been recognized in 27 countries across the world.
Several music services have dedicated playlists as well, from Spotify to Apple Music (Essential Feminism + High Maintenance), and the largest playlist at Tidal.
2. Qualifying Week in Georgia
This week is candidate qualification week for all who seek office in the state of Georgia this year. Amongst the biggest names, both Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp have officially filed for Governor in Georgia. In addition to the US Senate race which will see Raphael Warnock run for re-election against likely either Gary Black or Herschel Walker. This includes a very heavy set of candidates in the upper and lower-ticketed races that you should look out for:
Lower profile (but equally as important) races/candidates
Michelle Schreiner - House District 90
Nabilah Islam - GA Senate District 7
Michelle Au vs Betsy Kramer - House District 50
High profile races
Marjorie Taylor Greene - US Congress - GA14
Lucy McBath vs Carolyn Bourdeaux - US Congress - GA 07
State House rep Bee Nguyen - Secretary of State
State Senator Jen Jordan - Attorney General
3. Karyn Greer is replacing Jovita Moore on Channel 2
Today WSB Channel 2 news has announced a long-term replacement for anchor Jovita Moore. Moore passed away after a bout with brain cancer last year. That replacement will be CBS 46 news anchor Karyn Greer, a 32-year television news veteran. That 5 pm slot was anchored for decades prior by Monica Pearson (formerly Kaufman), who received the first prime time slot anchored by an African American in 1975. Pearson would enjoy a nearly 40-year stint on the evening news before retiring in 2012. The reigns of that slot went to protege Jovita Moore who held it until her passing last year.
3b. Monica Pearson is back on local tv, now on CBS 46
Speaking of, Monica Pearson has now come out of retirement to be a part of special programs for CBS 46, the network where Karyn Greer is departing. Her new show One on One recently debuted with a sit-down with former mayor Andrew Young.
4. Texas A&M Basketball Coach Sydney Carter’s attire
Recently Texas A&M Women’s Basketball assistant coach Sydney Carter has come under criticism for her attire on the side of the court. Her attire recently of a pair of pink leather pants went viral. Carter is also a former WNBA player, who ended her career as a member of the Atlanta Dream in 2015. Post-WNBA Carter has since moved into coaching, where she has been a member of the Texas A&M coaching staff.
Carter is a former player for Texas A&M including being a member of the 2011 national championship team. Carter’s attire has brought a lot of attention to the team, women’s college basketball, and herself. Some are concerned that she is being too fashion-focused, while others believe her form-fitting clothes are too revealing.
5. WNBA star Brittney Griner is detained in a Russian prison
WNBA star Brittney Griner is currently being detained in a Russian prison after being found to have cannabis oil on her at a Russian airport. Griner like many WNBA players typically plays a second season to supplement their income not made by being a WNBA player. Often this means a second season playing in other countries, especially Europe. Griner faces up to 10-years in prison if convicted in Russia.
6. The new Disney-Pixar film ‘Turning Red’ controversy
A new film heading to Disney+ this Friday, ‘Turning Red’ by director Domee Shi is causing a bit of conversation ahead of its debut. The film is the first Disney film of any kind to deal with the subject of puberty, periods, having an open LGBT friend, and is written from a female-centered point of view.
The film first gained notoriety in film circles as parent company Disney demoted its planned theatrical release, moving it instead to its streaming service Disney+. The film is the third consecutive Pixar film to not be given a theatrical release behind June of 2021’s Italian-led film ‘Luca’ and Christmas 2020’s first African American-led film ‘Soul’ featuring Jamie Foxx. Some believe that Disney is now moving its more diverse properties to streaming instead of theaters to promote the company’s Disney films.
6b. Disney is attempting to avoid ‘the culture wars’
In the case of ‘Turning Red’, many are asking whether Disney got cold feet. Due to the subject matter, Disney is looking to avoid being a source of a new ‘culture war’. Disney may be correct in this assertion as evidenced by a recent Cinema Blend movie review. That review has now been taken down, then replaced. The review has been widely panned on Twitter due to the reviewer’s insistence that the film’s subject matter and its Asian protagonists were not for everyone, i.e., himself, a white male. He has since deleted his tweet and apologized.
6c. Disney’s support of anti-LGBT politicians in Florida
For Disney, this recent backlash pales in comparison to the company’s reluctance to take a stand on Florida’s GOP-led ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. CEO Bob Chapek has stated that Disney does not want to offend its conservative supporters by expressing a lack of vocal support in opposition to the bill.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the company has donated to every member of the state legislature who sponsored and co-sponsored the bill. Disney last week held an internal meeting with select LGBT members of the company regarding the issue. Chapek’s tenure is increasing tension between fans with new CEO Bob Chapek, who has taken over after beloved former CEO Bob Iger in a tenuous exit.
Red Clay News
Georgia State is going back to the NCAA Men’s Tournament for the fourth time in seven years.
Little know 1970s Georgia activist Ken Krautter has died at 81 years old.
Georgia lawmakers are attempting to raise penalties for fleeing from police.
Alpharetta is looking to expand its eminent domain acquisitions for road widening projects.
Barnes and Noble on Moreland Avenue in the Edgewood Shopping Center is going out of business.
Atlanta's healthy fast-casual restaurant Local Green Atlanta has announced they will be opening a location at Disney Springs in Orlando.
Atlanta vegan fast food restaurant Slutty Vegan has announced they are expanding to Brooklyn.
Atlanta BeltLine creator Ryan Gravel’s restaurant Aftercar has announced that they will be opening this spring.
On Thursday, March 10th a special 90-minute peach walk will be happening at the new Rodney Cook Peace Park in Vine City in honor of former Mayor Andrew Young’s 90th birthday.
The city of Atlanta is holding a vending cart lottery until Sunday for would-be food vendors in the city. Form is here.
Senator Raphael Warnock is promoting a plan to cap the cost of insulin at $35.
Today Atlanta City Council resumed in-person city council sessions.
The 2022 Phoenix Files, Atlanta’s annual historic preservation event is happening now until March 27th.
APD must pay a $1.5 million dollar settlement to a transgender woman after a false arrest.
MARTA has settled a lawsuit with a contractor who was killed for $17 million.
Georgia senate GOP is advancing a bill banning covid-19 ‘vaccine passports’.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be back in Midtown this month.
Former Mayor Kasim Reed will be joining the law firm, Squire Patton Boggs.
National News
The New York AG’s investigation into the Trump organization may drop altogether due to several prosecutors quitting.
A new Supreme Court case may gut the entire EPA.
A California woman has admitted to making up a 2016 kidnapping plot.
Target is raising its minimum wage to $24/hour.
The US Senate has voted to block the Democrat’s bill to codify national abortion protections. All voting Republicans plus Dem Joe Manchin blocked the bill.
After months of protests, the killer of unarmed Moroccan immigrant Adil Dghoughi, Terry Turner has finally been arrested in Texas. Turner killed Dghoughi back in October after he was sitting in his car outside of his home. Police waited for 11-days to arrest Turner. Turner believed that he thought Dghoughi was a suspicious person, firing without warning into the car.
International News
Russia is now the most sanctioned country in the world.
The US has suspended avocado imports from the Mexican state of Michoacán was threatened during an inspection.
Australia is considering anti-troll legislation.
More evidence is mounting that covid-19 started at a Chinese market, not a lab.
Germany is giving out $720 million to Holocaust survivors.
Galactic News
The US Space Force is now looking for how to clean up layers of space junk.
Here’s to a new week! - KJW