By Raisa Habersham
In 2019, when it was reported that Quentin Tarantino structured a deal with Sony in which he would retain the rights of his film “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” it was lauded as a rare deal only a few movers and shakers such as George Lucas (“Star Wars” franchise) and Mel Gibson (“The Passion of the Christ”) secure for themselves. One article goes on to list a litany of white male directors who have made this deal.
This is why the reported passive-aggressive responses to filmmaker Ryan Coogler inking a similar deal for his blockbuster film “Sinners” are jarring by comparison. Instead of being welcomed into a rare club, Coogler has been met with the coded language of “dangerous” and other bad faith framing that suggests because this particular person (read: Black) made these asks and they were met, it sets a bad precedent for other filmmakers and studios.
Still, ownership for Black people means something. We know if we buy a home, it is not just a place of comfort it is a means of accumulating generational wealth. Similarly, some Black business owners know they have the independence of setting their own hours and not answering to a boss, board of directors or figurehead, and, again, is a means of accumulating generational wealth.
So, the coded language used to criticize, question and undermine Coogler is intended to dissuade other Black filmmakers from pursuing the same deals that white counterparts have already been granted. It also seeks to simply put a “Black boy” in his place. What Coogler showed through his deal is that ownership is necessary for our Black communities to thrive. And at a time when there are individuals seeking to stymie Black people’s efforts to grow, it’s important now more than ever to seek ownership as often as we can and in creative ways.
INSIDE THE 305:
Black South Floridians struggle to buy and keep homes in Miami’s gentrifying communities
Minority Business reporter Michael Butler and I worked on a story about the struggles of Black homeownership in South Florida. Whether it’s buying a home or holding onto a legacy home, these Black families spoke to the challenges faced in a tense South Florida housing market.
Partnership between Black-owned app and bank helps Miami renters build credit
Low credit scores have traditionally been a barrier for Black families obtaining home loans. But Black-owned bank, OneUnited, and credit reporting app Esusu hope to change that. As Butler reported, the goal is to help renters build their credit score based on their positive rental histories. Esusu will report the monthly rental payments to the credit bureaus to help them build credit.
“Historically, it has not been included,”OneUnited Bank CEO Teri Williams told the Miami Herald. “They ding you when you pay your credit card 30 days late, but you may still be paying your rent every month on time.”
All Cam Ward needed ‘was a chance.’ Now, he will likely be the top pick in the NFL Draft
Cam Ward consistently bet on himself. It has now led him to be the likely top pick in the NFL Draft, making him the third Miami Hurricanes player to be selected No. 1 overall, UM Hurricanes reporter Jordan McPherson writes.
As McPherson reports: It will be Ward’s latest ascent in a career full of ascension. But as the stage got bigger and the lights got brighter, Ward never let it faze him. “It just goes back to me not forgetting where I came from,” Ward said. “I carry myself in a certain type of way. All I want to do is play football and be with my teammates. So long as I be a good person, it’ll work out the long run.”
OUTSIDE THE 305:
Tina Knowles Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis And Shares 1 Important Lesson
In a vulnerable interview with CBS Morning News’ Gayle King, Tina Knowles, mother to singers Beyonce and Solange, revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “It was stage 1, which I thought was the earliest stage, and when I told my sister she said, ‘No, there’s a zero,’” Knowles told King. Knowles said it might have been caught sooner had she not missed her mammogram due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The interview is part of Knowles’ press run for new book “Matriarch,” released on Tuesday. Knowles does not have a stop in Florida during her book tour, but those interested can find more about her book here.
With heart and history, FSU Legend Charlie Ward steps into role at FAMU
Heisman trophy winner and Florida State University dynamo Charlie Ward detailed his plans for FAMU’s basketball program at a press conference formally introducing him as the Rattlers’ head coach, FSU Seminoles on SI reported.
“Our goal as a program would be to focus on the whole athlete by providing them opportunities and professional development, community outreach, team bonding, and being leaders on campus. We will develop men of character and integrity so they can reach whatever goal they set,” Ward continued. “I’m committed to building a team that competes hard, plays with discipline, and represents FAMU with pride.”
HIGH CULTURE: Hampton Art Lovers Presents: Jazz Under a Simple Tree: Live @ Harlem Square (1963)
Recorded in 1963 in Overtown, Sam Cooke’s “Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963” is heralded as one of the best live albums. And Thursday, jazz lovers can hear the sounds of Cooke as Miami group Old Skool Gang performs the full live recording at the Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery at 249 NW 9th Street in Overtown. The event starts at 7 p.m.
Raisa Habersham is the race and culture reporter for the Miami Herald. She previously covered Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale for the Herald with a focus on housing and affordability. Habersham is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She joined the Herald in 2022.
