5 Videos About The World Today Worth Watching

With so much happening in the world, it's difficult to keep up, let alone get a decent grasp on each topic. Over the past few weeks, I've happened upon a few videos addressing healthcare, the Mexican border wall, the refugee crisis, and the upcoming Supreme Court nomination. These videos strike the rare balance between brief, engaging, informative and emotive. They're well worth a watch.

Shutting Down BS with a Holocaust Survivor
Shutting Down BS is a video series in which host Dylan interviews people to bust myths surrounding various topics. This episode he sits down with Samuel Marder, who survived the Holocaust.

"If it happened once, it can happen again... And the world responds the same way it did before, by not responding. By not caring."

Obamacare in Trump Country
Vox reporters traveled to Whitley County in Kentucky to find out why people who benefited most from Obamacare also voted for Donald Trump. Some thought that Trump would not actually repeal Obamacare. Others felt that Obamacare wasn't affordable.

"Since Obamacare launched in 2013 the number of lower-income, less-educated White Americans with insurance increased dramatically, not just in Kentucky but nationwide...

'I didn't realize that the government was subsidizing my health insurance... and I absolutely detest hearing the words Obamacare. Detest it.'"

Mexican Architects Visualized Trump's Proposed $25 Billion Wall
President Trump said construction of a border wall between Mexico and the United States would start within "months." Mexican architects visualized the wall, estimated to cost $25 billion, to show how unrealistic it the idea is.

"The plan includes a prison capable of holding 11 million deported, illegal immigrants... [and] a shopping mall for Americans to enjoy."

What Might President Trump's Nomination Mean For The Supreme Court?
President Trump nominated conservative Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill Justice Antonin Scalia's vacant seat on the Supreme Court. NPR's Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg explains. 

"If there's not going to be a dramatic change right now, there will be if there's another [Trump] nominee...

You would see a court that is already pro-business become more pro-business... a court that is more hostile to voting rights initiatives [and] much more hostile to civil rights claims."

Let Me In
Alicia Keys created this music video exploring the concept: what if what is happening to today's refugees was happening to today's American families? What would that look like?

The video calls attention to the We Are Here movement, a coalition of organizations which hopes to stand as one with people forced to flee conflict and disaster.

Did you learn something new? Did a quote or moment strike a chord? I'd love to know. Leave me your thoughts in the comments below.

10 Box Subscription Brands To Give You Life

It's been a rough few weeks (or months, depending upon how you look at it) for many of us. On one end, during rough times it can be nice to unplug, disconnect and just surround ourselves with the simple things. On the other hand, there are businesses that send you boxes full of awesome stuff like cookies these days!

I'm not advocating going crazy here, just saying, if you're able to swing it, here are some neat ways you might be able to treat yourself (or give to someone you love) this year.

The Cravory
Who would not want cookies mailed to your door? That's what The Cravory does! They have cookie subscriptions! An ongoing subscription of 12 cookies a month starts at about $25 a month. Personally, I couldn't see feeling good about doing this more than two months in a row for myself, but a cool gift idea though!

Bestowed
Already feeling unhealthy thinking about those cookies? Bestowed might be more your speed. This box is packed with the healthy foods and snacks you pass by in the organic grocery store aisle. Starts at $20 a month and goes down if you commit to longer. So not bad for you, price-wise either!

CauseBox
CauseBox sends out quarterly boxes of products from socially conscious brands, valued at over $150 per box, yet costing you about $50 if you commit to a year. So you're investing in brands with a conscious AND getting $100 off on their stuff! That's actually pretty darn awesome.

OnyxBox
Fellow Black girls, unite! OnyxBox is a beauty subscription box for Black women! So if you've been tired of wandering the aisles of Sephora and Ulta feeling too-melanin for it all, now you can reach into the mailbox and be catered to exactly as you are, starting at $25 a month, of course. Which hey, that's not bad. I've spent way more than that in one reluctant Sephora trip.

Book of the Month
Okay, not a box subscription, but a book subscription and I'm just going to say it counts. Each month Book of the Month selects 5 books, and you pick one, and they send it to you, and you read it, and repeat! If you love books and you need to curb your bookstore expenses this might be the thing for you! First month is $5, then $15 a month after that. Which woah! That sounds great!

Call Number
Call Number is an actual box subscription, with books, celebrating Black literature and authors! Each month you get a book and 4-5 bookish and library-related items (intrigue!). Starts at $35 a month, which is a little pricey for me, honestly, but I could definitely see giving it a try!

Bump Box
Are you a mama-to-be? Or do you know one? This monthly subscription service caps out at 9 months (I wonder why? 😂), and it actually customizes your box to your estimated due date! What! It's not just about sending mommy-stuff, but healthy products actually relevant to your stage of pregnancy. Starts at about $40 a month ladies.

PopSugar Must Have
A box of fashion, beauty, home and more. I personally feel like this is a box for ladies who love ELLE magazine or other magazines like it. It's kind of high-end-ish, what I imagine to be super "in." In any case, it's over $100 in value each month and starts at about $40 a month. I think this makes a great gift for a friend with expensive taste.

My Curls Understood Box
Gather around curly ladies! Take a super short hair quiz and then sit back and wait for your box of $40+ of products for hair just like yours! Send your feedback and they promise to keep the good curls rolling. Cheesy? I don't curl. 😂 (I'm hilarious.) Personalized boxes start at $27 a month!

Faithbox
Is the Christian faith a part of your self-care? Faithbox is meant to inspire Christian living through devotionals, seasonal prayers, introducing you to socially conscious products, and more. They partner with Rice Bowls to provide three meals to hungry kids per Faithbox purchase. Their guiding scripture: "In doing good, let us not fail." Galations 6:9

Did I miss one or two? Tell me in the comments below!

7 Brands That Took A Stand Against The Refugee Ban, And How

Typically, we watch commercial brands bend over backwards to not get political. But not this weekend. Seven well-known brands released statements directly engaging the recent executive order to ban refugees from the Middle East from entering the United States. Each brand approached this communication differently, some of them even making major business decisions to show their dedication to the cause.

This proves that how brands respond to politics, particularly in today's climate, matters to consumers – so much so that they'll realign their loyalties based on it. So whether your organization is large or small, profit or non-profit, you may want to consider how your communications strategy engages the issues your community's concerned about, and what message you're sending when you send none at all.

Facebook
Founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg took to what else but Facebook to release his statement against the ban.

“The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we should be proud of that,” he wrote, adding his grandparents came from Germany, Austria and Poland and his wife Priscilla's parents were refugees from China and Vietnam. “These issues are personal for me even beyond my family. A few years ago, I taught a class at a local middle school where some of my best students were undocumented.

He added: “They are our future too. We are a nation of immigrants, and we all benefit when the best and brightest from around the world can live, work and contribute here." (Source)

Lyft
Lyft may have been the most-heard brand in terms of its strong, generous response in opposing the ban. At around the same time that it's competitor Uber was defending its position on a DJT business council and breaking a taxi strike protesting the ban at JFK airport, Lyft released a statement on their blog that it would donate $1 million to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), which has been in high gear working to fight the ban.

The news spread like wildfire, and people upset with Uber's less-than reaction, tweeting #DeleteUber suddenly had a really easy replacement. (Source)

Google
Chief executive of Google, Sundar Pichai, reached out to his employees to advise and support them in reaction to the ban and also took to Twitter to respond, highlighting the story of one affected Google employee, Sanaz.

Google's official statement said, "We're concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US." (Source)

Airbnb
Airbnb tweeted too. Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, made statements on Twitter and Facebook denouncing the order not to allow refugees into the United States, saying it was "not right, and we must stand with those who are affected."

He pledged to provide free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the U.S. who needs it. An Airbnb spokesperson added later that they plan on leveraging their existing disaster response tools to get this done. (Source)

Starbucks
Starbucks released a long statement from their online newsroom addressing not only the refugee ban but also the status of "Dreamers," the wall along Mexico and the Affordable Care Act.

"We are living in an unprecedented time," CEO Howard Schultz wrote, "one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question."

In response to the refugee ban, he announced plans to hire 10,000 refugees over 5 years in the 75 countries they do business. (Source)

Netflix
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings took to Facebook to share his position. Hastings used some of the strongest language to stand against the ban, calling it "so un-American it pains us all."

His more emotive language stands out beside the more official tones held by his tech industry peers. (Source)

Apple
CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, sent an email to his employees responding to the ban and establishing Apple's stance. 

He was clear that Apple did not support the ban and expressed that "Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."

He invoked the words of Martin Luther King at the end, "We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now." (Source)

20 Steps Refugees Take Before Entering the United States

I've heard arguments about whether it is wise to allow immigrants – refugees in particular – into the United States. A common theme I've heard is that not enough is done to know if they would be a threat. I decided to take to the reputable corners of the internet and find out as much as I could about the path to the U.S. for today's refugees.

If you just want the bullet points, that's straight below. You want to learn a little more, scroll down to where I've broken the four milestones of the process down in a bit more depth.

The No-Explanation List Version

1. Geographically-Specific Trauma
   (not so much a step as a reality they couldn't avoid)
   
   
2. Registration for refugee status with The United Nations Refugee Agency, which includes…
    
3. Complete in-depth, lengthy application
4. Multiple interviews to verify application
5. Home visits to verify application
6. Relationship checks to verify application
7. Being photographed
8. Biological data gathered
    
9. Receive referral from The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the United States (a small % receive this)
    
10. Begin screenings by The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which include...
     
11. Complete in-depth, lengthy application
12. Provide proof of persecution
13. Provide a detailed affidavit explaining what happened and why they’re afraid to return to their home country
14. Application review from nine government agencies (including FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center)
15. Multiple interviews to verify application
16. Fingerprints taken to rule out national safety threat
17. Medical examinations to rule out national safety threat
18. Comparison of application to other family members’ applications to find contradictions / verify truth
19. Cultural orientation classes
20. Receive approval to travel to the U.S., before which, more screenings will occur (less than 1% of global refugee population gets resettled)

Extra: Refugees must apply for a green card within first year in the U.S., which triggers a new set of security procedures

Sources: TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, The UN Refugee Agency, U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services, The White House, U.S. Department of State

---

The Detailed, Major Milestones Version

1. Immense, Geographically-Specific Trauma
   “When our 7-day-old son died while receiving treatment for jaundice in a Damascus hospital, my husband and I decided to flee the country with our daughters.” - Linda, Syrian Refugee (Source)
   
   By definition, a refugee has no choice but to leave their country of origin in order to escape immense trauma, like that caused by war, persecution or a natural disaster. These are not people seeking to take advantage of or take over the United States. These are people looking for a solid foundation to rebuild their lives.
    
2. Register for refugee status with The United Nations Refugee Agency

   “[W]e were thoroughly vetted before we came here, just like other refugees — exhaustively, endlessly vetted.” - Linda, Syrian Refugee (Source)
   
   People who want refugee status must be able to get to a location where they can apply, with the help of an official of The United Nations Refugee Agency. The information gathered and verified includes:
   
   Name   •   Date and place of birth   •   Existing identity documents   •   Marital status   •   Special protection and assistance needs   •   Level of education   •   Occupational skills   •   Ethnic origins   •   Religion   •   Language   •   Household and family composition, including parents’ names (how many people, depth on relationships and roles, ages, location[s], etc.)   •   Date of arrival   •   Current location and address   • Place of origin   •   Photograph   •   Biological data
   
   If a birth, death, divorce, location change, etc. happens during the time of application, the application must be updated. Applicants experience interviews, home visits, and relationship checks.

3. Referral from The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
   “After a year, I received a call from the United Nations asking if my family would like to resettle somewhere else. Based on our documents, stories and circumstances — our large family, five girls, my husband’s potential as a healthy worker — we had been deemed eligible to apply for refugee status.” - Linda, Syrian Refugee (Source)
   
   The UNHCR registers around 15 million people seeking asylum around the world. A small percentage of those who register and pass background checks are referred for overseas resettlement.
    
4. Screenings by The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)
   “…[A]t least five in-­person interviews with each of us and countless phone conversations. The questions were very detailed: about my family, my friends, how I spent my time. The interviewers often knew the answers to the questions before they asked them.” - Linda, Syrian Refugee (Source)
   
   Our government’s screening process involves consultations from nine government agencies (including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center), who meet weekly to review refugee case files and determine where in the U.S. they should be placed.
   
   Applicants must provide proof of persecution, a detailed affidavit explaining what happened and why they’re afraid to return to their home country, participate in multiple sessions of intense questioning to verify who they are, and even undergo medical examinations. The interviews are often compared to the interviews of their family members; if there is any contradiction the process ends here. The process can also be set to restart at several points if some type of new information surfaces or flags are raised.
   
   This part of the process commonly takes 18-24 months. Just over half of the individuals who make it this far pass the screening process. Less than 1% of registered refugees are resettled in any country, let alone the U.S.
   
   If approved, the applicant will receive a visa. If denied, there is no opportunity for appeal.
   
   More screenings occur between the time that a visa is given and the refugee(s) travel to the U.S.
   
   Extra: Refugees must apply for a green card within first year in the U.S., which triggers a new set of security procedures.

Sources: TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, The UN Refugee Agency, U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services, The White House, U.S. Department of State

Learned something? Share it, so more people can make informed decisions about our immigration process, for example, the proposed bans on refugees.

3 Mobile Apps That Get You Politically Engaged Today

In times like these, it isn't just nice to be politically engaged. It's either be politically engaged, or become complicit (whether aware of it or not) in the workings of a machine that will change the lives of millions of people. That's why I asked my friends and fam about what ways they knew to get informed and engaged faster, and that's why when I found out about these political mobile apps I wrote this article for For Harriet as fast as my fingers could type.

While I'm excited to motivate more Black women like myself to move from politically-minded to politically-active, I am well aware that this task will require the full participation of every able American. So no more intro. Get these apps and get engaging.

VoteSpotter
VoteSpotter is a mobile app that connects you to your representatives (Federal and State). Get alerts when they vote, then tell them what you think. Also shares their contact information so it's easy to email, call, fax, write them, or all of the above.
 

Countable
Countable describes their platform as "government made easy." They have a website and a mobile app that empowers people like me and you to directly influence policy and keep track of your congressional representatives.

They let you know what Congress is voting on, and provide both brief and more in-depth descriptions of the impact of potential legislation, why you might lean yes or no, who proposed the bill, and even more. They also allow you to see what your reps are voting and contact them easily.

Voter
This is literally Tinder for politics. You swipe right or left to indicate your stance of yes or no on different issues, and then it matches you up with politicians who most closely fit your leanings.

Now, ah, I've used Tinder before. So I feel very confident in saying that like Tinder, this is not a perfect way to find a political match. Voter thinks I would have liked to have Jill Stein as president, which isn't the case for me. It also thought I lived in Richmond, CA, instead of Richmond, VA, which had me confused on local issues for a minute 😂 But I digress. I think it could be a useful app for learning more about the candidates around you.

Take a Look Inside the Apps

So while you're searching through the App store to download these, tell me, what ways do you stay politically informed and engaged? Have any more suggestions?