Spike Lee calls out Cosby for stealing ‘School Daze’ premise for ‘A Different World’

Spike Lee has a bone to pick with Bill Cosby.

The Oscar-winning film director in a tweet said the incarcerated comic “jacked” his idea for the film School Daze for the popular TV series A Different World. Both projects are based on the HBCU experience.

And For Record. SCHOOL DAZE Was Shot Before DIFFERENT WORLD. Robbi Reed Cast Both. Bill Cosby Jacked Us. #FACT #schooldazeonnetflix

— Spike Lee (@SpikeLeeJoint) April 4, 2020

Lee’s film began streaming on Netflix this week. The Brooklyn native also tweeted additional background info about the movie.

READ MORE: Spike Lee releases script of scrapped Jackie Robinson biopic

Cosby created and executive produced A Different World, the popular spin-off of The Cosby Show, which followed Denise Huxtable’s (played by Lisa Bonet) life at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU.

(Photo: Universal Studios)

The series premiered in September 1987, while School Daze premiered in February 1988, though filming was completed before that of A Different World, according to Lee.

Some followers agreed with Lee’s assessment.

He sterilized and sanitized your movie. No two ways about it. And I loved A Different World, but damn three main cast members were in the film!

— Seejay (@ManusBaldSpot) April 4, 2020

While others found both Lee’s film and Cosby’s series inspirational.

School Daze and A Different World is the reason why I wanted to go to a HBCU. If I had the money I would have went to Morehouse, but I ultimately chose going to Southern University of Baton Rouge.

— 50400Degreez (@jee443117) April 4, 2020

READ MORE: Netflix shows ‘Nailed It’ and ‘#blackAF’ worth binging in April

School Daze was inspired by Lee’s time as an undergraduate at Morehouse College. The movie cast included Lee himself, Lawrence Fishburne, Bill Nunn and Tisha Campbell, tackling issues such as pledging in Black fraternities and sororities, along with colorism.

(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

A Different World starred Bonet, Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy. The sitcom tackled issues of apartheid, the Los Angeles Riots and interracial dating. It lasted six seasons.

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Flikshop is Helping Inmates Stay Connected with Their Families During COVID-19 Crisis

Families with loved ones incarcerated are now further removed from them as prisons and correctional facilities around the country practice social distancing and have ended visitations due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In response, Flikshop, a mobile app that allows people to upload and send photos to incarcerated friends and family members in the form of a physical postcard, has partnered with prisons and detention centers to ensure people stay in touch—in two cases for free.

Flikshop is working with correctional facilities in Colorado and Santa Clara, CA, to connect people with their loved ones. The arrangement is made possible by way of Flikshop Angels, a community-led activation that allows people to purchase Flikshop Credits gifted to children with incarcerated parents.

“We want every person in every cell to receive a Flikshop postcard every day,” Marcus Bullock, founder and CEO of the company, said in a statement. “That’s our mission.”

On March 31, the Colorado Department of Corrections announced on Facebook that friends and families can now send three free postcards to incarcerated people with the support of Flikshop Angels. “[Flikshop] is a small step for families to connect with their loved ones behind the walls, but one we are happy to support,” Dean Williams, executive director for the Colorado Department of Corrections, said.

Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall has also rallied for support to keep young people connected to their families during the health crisis. And they are now Flikshop Angels.

“Flikshop is a great service for our population,” said Sean Rooney, probation manager for Santa Clara County. “Hopefully this will go well and give other counties a great example to open up the possibilities for growth.”

Since the inception of Flikshop Angels, “angels” have helped to connect over 35,000 families and paid the tuition for eight Flikshop School of Business participants.

For the latest updates on how the health crisis is impacting the black community, click here.

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Black man, denied early release, becomes first federal inmate to die of coronavirus

Patrick Jones, a federal inmate in Louisiana, was looking to get a second chance at life by appealing his drug-trafficking sentence. That all ended on March 28th when he became the first federal prisoner to die of coronavirus.

Jones, 49, was the first of five prisoners at FCI Oakdale I federal prison to pass away from complications of COVID-19, according to The Marshall Report. The Federal Bureau of Prisons stated in a press release that Jones was diagnosed with the virus after being taken to a local hospital on March 19.

READ MORE: ‘Last Prisoner Project’ calls for release of cannabis prisoners during COVID-19

He was placed on a ventilator the following day as his health sharply declined. The release stated Jones had pre-existing conditions.

As of Wednesday, 15 people at FCI Oakdale, including 11 inmates and four staff members, have tested positive with COVID-19, The New York Times reported. The facility is a low-security prison that holds less than 1,000 inmates.

Jones had been sentenced in 2007 to 27 years for possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell in Temple, Texas. Being that his crime wasn’t of a violent nature, He had been attempting an early release under the 2018 First Step Act. The sentence was based largely on the prosecution claiming he has possessed 425.1 grams of crack, via testimony from his wife. However, that amount of drugs was never found.

A judge denied the request for early release and Jones, who said he had not seen his son since he was three years old, vowed to appeal.

READ MORE: Americans should wear face masks in public, White House recommends

“He was killed before coronavirus killed him, because that sentence was absurd,” said Kevin Ring, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums advocacy group. “His case is exactly the type of case we’ll need to grapple with.”

As of Saturday morning, more than 278,500 people in the United States have contracted the fast-spreading virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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‘Africans are not lab rats’ trends after French doctors’ vaccine comments

Two French doctors are being slammed for suggesting that vaccines for the novel coronavirus should be tested in Africa during a television broadcast.

According to the BBC, Jean-Paul Mira, head of intensive care Cochin Hospital in Paris, was featured on the TV channel LCI, debating with Dr. Camille Locht, Inserm Health research group’s head of research, about using a tuberculosis vaccine to combat COVID-19 in European and Australian trials.

READ MORE: African jazz great Manu Dibango dies in France of coronavirus

Mira then suggested that trials should take place in Africa.

“A bit like as it is done elsewhere for some studies on Aids,” Mira said. “In prostitutes, we try things because we know that they are highly exposed and that they do not protect themselves.”

The whole of Africa have recorded only 23 #coronavirus death compared to
ITALY -13950 Deaths
China -3314 Deaths
Spain – 10,935 Deaths
USA – 6,099 Deaths

But this evil people want to start vaccination in Africa#AfricansAreNotLabRats#DearMrPresident
pic.twitter.com/PUxUdvky6W

— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) April 4, 2020

He questioned that since Africa had “no masks, no treatments, no resuscitation,” would trials in Europe and Australia work as planned since they have access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

Dr. Locht replied, “You are right. We are in the process of thinking about a study in parallel in Africa.”

READ MORE: Here’s how African countries are combating coronavirus

Reactions to the doctors’ statements hit social media, where many were irate and offended. Online outrage also led to the hashtag #AfricansAreNotLabRats to become a trending topic on Twitter.

Among them was Didier Drogba, former star of the Chelsea Football Club, and captain of the Ivory Coast national soccer team.

“I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racist words,” Drogba tweeted.

It is totally inconceivable we keep on cautioning this.
Africa isn’t a testing lab.
I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racists words.

Helps us save Africa with the current ongoing Covid 19 and flatten the curve. pic.twitter.com/41GIpXaIYv

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 2, 2020

“Do not take African people as human guinea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting,”

Africa is currently the continent that is the least afflicted with COVID-19, with only 7,064 positive cases and 290 deaths.

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What the COVID-19 Crisis is Teaching the World About Humanity

The COVID-19 health crisis is arguably the reminder people all over the world needed to rediscover our humanity. As people’s lives are being reshaped by isolation, the economy, and everything else that has come about as a result of the world’s new normal—now is an opportune time to reflect on how people can band together and practice empathy as we strive to overcome the crisis.

Here are some gentle reminders during the time:

1. We need each other. – As the world practicing social distancing, it’s important to remain connected. It seems like the world has truly gone digital overnight as the virus has spread rapidly forcing people to find other ways to connect.
2. There is a great need for empathy. – People are very vulnerable right now. And taking the time to understand one another needs and as well as expressing ourselves respectfully can help us better serve each other.
3. In the words of the rapper Big Boi, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” In other words, wash your hands and practice good hygiene.
4. We must protect our elders. – It can be hard to keep your distance from your loved ones during this time, but for many elders, it is in their best interest. Aside from social distancing, it is key to check in on the elderly and make sure they have basic essentials if they are sheltered in place.
5. It is important to set healthy boundaries. – Working from home and sheltering in is not as simple as some people might have anticipated. For many, the new routine can be stressful. Here are some tips from Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, on how to stay mentally fit during these times.
6. We are all connected. – There is only one race. The human race. In order to get through these times, we must be on one accord.
7. It is important to establish a sense of trust. – The influx of news regarding coronavirus has established a sense of distrust as some information has been sensationalized. Many people are also living in fear. During this time, it is critical to vet out reliable resources for information.

The list could go on. Nevertheless, it starts with each and every one of us. To stay in the loop about how COVID-19 is impacting the black community click here.

 

 

 

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