Latest news with #BlackLivesMatter
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Juventus players befuddled by visit with Trump at White House: ‘I just want to play football, man'
Members of the Italian soccer team Juventus visited with President Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. Exactly why the gathering took place remains largely a mystery. Six of the team's players (Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti, Teun Koopmeiners and Dusan Vlahovic), their coach Igor Tudor, a handful of team executives and FIFA president Gianni Infantino stopped by hours before Juventus' FIFA Club World Cup game against United Arab Emirates' Al Ain that night at Audi Field. Trump was presented with a Juventus jersey and one for next year's World Cup, which the United States will be co-host with Canada and Mexico. But as Trump took questions from the media for about 15 minutes during the event, very little soccer was discussed. Instead, the players stood behind him patiently — fidgeting now and then, their faces mainly expressionless — as Trump answered questions that mostly related to the potential of U.S. involvement in Israel's war against Iran. Later that night, speaking to a different group of reporters after his team's 5-0 victory over Al Ain, Weah called the White House experience 'a bit weird' and implied he and the other players weren't given the option of declining the visit. 'They told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,' said Weah, a U.S. men's national team member whose father George is a past winner of the prestigious France Football Ballon d'Or award and was the president of Liberia from 2018-2024. 'So [I] showed up.' FIFA declined to comment. The White House and Juventus did not respond to requests for comment from The Times. While Weah said he thought his first White House visit 'was a cool experience,' he added that 'I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting.' 'When [Trump] started talking about all the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football, man,' Weah said. Fellow USMNT player McKennie had made critical comments about Trump during the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020. 'I don't think that Trump is the right one for the job as the president,' McKennie said at the time. 'I think he's ignorant. I don't support him a bit. I don't think he's a man to stand by his word. In my eyes, you can call him racist.' Still, during his introductory comments, Trump briefly singled out Weah and McKennie as 'my American players' when he mentioned that night's game. 'Good luck,' he said while shaking both of their hands in what had the potential to be an awkward moment. 'I hope you guys are the two best players on the field.' That's not to say, however, that there weren't any awkward moments. Because there were — none more so than when Trump brought up 'men playing in women's sports,' then looked over his right shoulder and asked: 'Could a woman make your team, fellas? Tell me. You think?' When no players answered, Trump said, 'You're being nice,' then turned to face the other direction and asked the same question. 'We have a very good women's team,' Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied. Trump asked, 'But they should be playing with women, right?' When he got no response, Trump smiled and turned back toward the reporters. 'See, they're very diplomatic,' he said. Trump made a couple of other attempts to involve the soccer contingent in the discussion. At one point, the president used the word 'stealth' when discussing U.S. military planes, then turned around and remarked, 'You guys want to be stealthy tonight. You can be stealthy — you'll never lose, right?' The players did not seem to respond. For the final question of the session, a reporter favorably compared Trump's border policy to that of former President Biden and asked, 'What do you attribute that success to?' Trump looked behind him and stated, 'See, that's what I call a good question, fellas.' Once again, the players did not appear to respond.
Forbes
21 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Juneteenth In 2025: Embrace Empathy And Action In A Shifting Landscape
Juneteenth falls on June 19 and has often been celebrated to mark the end of slavery in the US. ... More (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images) Juneteenth represents the historic emancipation day for enslaved people who gained their freedom on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Fast-forward to 2021, when Juneteenth became a federal holiday, many organizations and leaders grappled with how to observe the day then and in the future. A survey showed that 40% of large organizations made space for Juneteenth. Those committed to inclusion have persevered while creating new memories around Juneteenth. Given the diversity and inclusion challenges we now face in 2025, the experience of Juneteenth will undoubtedly vary. This article will highlight an example of how one CEO acknowledges Juneteenth and provide tips on how inclusive leaders can authentically observe the holiday. Penzeys Spices is on a mission to make the world a better place I recently received an email from Bill Penzey, CEO of Penzey's Spices. I have long appreciated the organization's commitment to inclusion. Today's message highlighted the importance of Juneteenth. It stood out because there's not a lot of retail hoopla around Juneteenth sales in my region. The message boldly confronts injustice and racism, proclaiming that Black Lives Still Matter. We need to see more of this bold leadership when advocating for inclusion. In the past, I have dubbed Penzey's as an Inclusion Hero of the Week. The article feedback was mostly positive, and I received messages from those who disagreed with the designation. Varied perspectives will also show up in the workplace. Not everyone will believe in the importance and priority of Juneteenth. That is expected because each individual is at a different place on the inclusive leadership journey. The new administration in the White House has pushed for changes around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Traces of Juneteenth proclamations and celebrations have vanished or archived. Since leadership sets the tone, many organizations have tweaked Juneteenth plans. As such, employees committed to inclusion will face more challenges in the broader adoption of Juneteenth in the workplace. Acknowledge Juneteenth and have some fun with it. How? Participate in workplace programming activities, local libraries, or community organizations. Juneteenth activities are available for those intentionally seeking to participate and learn. If the organization hasn't prioritized Juneteenth, consider being the trailblazer, creating a more inclusive space. Start small with a lunch and learn activity for the leadership team that's low-cost but significant. Leaders set the tone, so showing inclusion and commitment will encourage team members to follow suit. When a leader acknowledges Juneteenth, the action provides deep meaning for impacted parties. It signals sponsorship and advocacy support that sometimes needs those in higher positions to help advance organizational changes. Leaders don't have to be the experts on Juneteenth because there are many nuances around sensitivities of the topic of slavery, reparations, and more. However, it does mean there's a commitment to inclusion that the leader is willing to make and take a stand for. Please pay attention to language and ensure it's inclusive. Additionally, be self-aware of body language and words related to Juneteenth's historical significance. For example, if courageous conversations about the impact of slavery in today's workplace cause discomfort, additional resources may be required to strengthen the leader's toolkit. These suggested actions help leaders build more meaningful relationships with employees. Connecting with the organization's resource groups can help build awareness around cultural significance. These stakeholders can share impactful lived experiences and ideas to help leadership get involved. The key is being open to learning and leveraging mentoring through these groups. Additionally, engagement survey data can provide insights into the experiences of employee groups. If the data is unavailable, consider upgrading survey questions to gain insights into what actions employees want organizations to take around acknowledging and celebrating Juneteenth.
Metro
a day ago
- Politics
- Metro
Timothy Weah reveals Juventus stars forced into 'weird' Donald Trump meeting
Juventus star Timothy Weah has revealed he was forced to attend a 'weird' meeting with Donald Trump at the White House. The Italian giants are in the US as part of the Club World Cup, getting their group campaign off to a winning start with a 5-0 victory over Al Ain in the early hours of Thursday morning. Before the game, the squad and staff visited the Oval Office, lining up behind Trump's desk in front of the press. What followed was a series of awkward exchanges as Trump grilled the squad on a number of issues, including the subject of transgender women in sport. Juve midfielder and USA international Weston McKennie was seen looking to his countryman Weah for help after being asked 'could a women make your team, fellas?' McKennie was rescued when Manuel Locatelli broke a brief period of uncomfortable silence saying, 'Yeah.' Weah, son of the legendary George Weah, later revealed he did not want to attend the 16-minute summit. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'It was all a surprise to me, honestly — they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go so I showed up,' Weah told reporters after the 5-0 win later that day. 'I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football man.' His Juventus and USA teammate McKennie meanwhile has previously criticised Trump during his first term following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. 'I don't think that Trump is the right one for the job as the president,' he told Bild. More Trending 'I stand by these words. I believe he doesn't understand the responsibility he has for the entire country. I think he's ignorant. I don't support him a bit. I don't think he's a man to stand by his word. In my eyes, you can call him racist.' Trump signed the controversial and hugely divisive 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports' executive order in February after campaigning heavily on the issue in 2024. The order prompted the National Collegiate Athletic Association to change its gender eligibility policy to only permit biological females to compete in the women's category. MORE: Ellen DeGeneres shares rare look at sprawling UK home after leaving US over Trump MORE: Kylian Mbappe in hospital after missing Real Madrid's opening Club World Cup game MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold tells Liverpool fans how long he's been learning Spanish after Real Madrid debut
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
What is Juneteenth? The meaning behind the June 19 federal holiday and how it's celebrated
June 19 marks Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. It became a federal holiday in 2021 when then-President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Now, across the country, many people have off from work and use Juneteenth to celebrate, reflect and educate themselves on the dark history of slavery in the U.S. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865. That was when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that over 250,000 enslaved people were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln and declared slaves in Confederate states were free. Originally celebrated by newly freed Black communities in Texas with religious services, barbecues and symbolic traditions like discarding clothing worn during enslavement, the holiday has since grown beyond Texas and the South. Though festivities resurfaced in Black communities during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement as a way to honor their legacy, the holiday — sometimes referred to by other names such as 'Second Independence Day,' 'Freedom Day,' 'Emancipation Day' or 'Black Fourth of July' — gained national attention once again during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. The movement inspired Congress and Biden to create an official federal holiday to honor Juneteenth the following year. Modern Juneteenth festivities are vibrant and celebratory, and typically involve outdoor activities like cookouts and picnics. Large community events are also held: Last year, the White House hosted a concert on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. This year, Juneteenth events across the country include things like film screenings, festivals, concerts and other community cultural events. In an opinion piece for the Arizona Republic, Greg Moore wrote, 'It's a good time to find a community of people and celebrate the racial progress we've made over the last few decades…And given all the separation Black Americans have faced through history, it would be fitting to celebrate in a community gathering — the bigger, the better.' Some people may prefer to use Juneteenth as a day of reflection, education and remembrance. That could include going to a museum, some of which are hosting special programs for the holiday on Black American history. The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., is marking Juneteenth with free admission and educational activities for families. This year, many Juneteenth events have been scaled back or canceled because companies and local governments are cutting funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. You can honor Juneteenth even if you are not Black, Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University, told the Associated Press. Brown explained that the history of slavery in America is all of our history, and it's important to recognize 'the good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law.' However, Moore wrote in the Arizona Republic that it's important not to let Juneteenth go the way of holidays like Cinco de Mayo, in which cultures are reduced to harmful stereotypes. He's afraid Black culture can be 'warped beyond recognition' during disrespectful celebrations. 'There shouldn't be any blackface or watermelon jokes,' he said. While Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, people employed in the private sector are not legally required to recognize or observe the holiday. In turn, privately owned shops, restaurants, grocery stores and other retail businesses will likely keep normal hours on the holiday unless they choose to honor the holiday in some way. Most major banks, as well as the stock market, are closed on Juneteenth. So is the post office and other federal offices. Public schools and libraries are typically closed as well. While red, green and black are colors associated with Juneteenth — those are the colors of the pan-African flag, which represents the African diaspora and the unity of Black people — the Juneteenth flag is red, white and blue. It was created in 1997 by community organizer and activist Ben 'Boston Ben' Haith in order to give the holiday a unifying symbol. 'For so long, our ancestors weren't considered citizens of this country,' Haith said in an interview with Capital B. 'But realistically, and technically, they were citizens. They just were deprived of being recognized as citizens. So I thought it was important that the colors portray red, white, and blue, which we see in the American flag.' The star in the center stands for two things: Texas, where Juneteenth began, and, according to Haith, the white burst around the star symbolizes a new star being born — representing a new beginning for Black Americans. The red arc below it represents a horizon, signifying progress and hope for the future.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Couples who share this quality are happier and more satisfied with their lives, new study says
There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy, happy relationship, but how your relationship impacts your emotional well-being is important too. Research has indicated that personal relationships are largely where people derive their sense of meaning in life—defined by researchers as how people 'comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives.' But it hasn't been clear what it is about relationships that helps people find meaning. A recent study gets us closer to an answer: Research from McGill University, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, shows that couples who hold a shared worldview (being on the same page about their understanding of the world) experienced less uncertainty and found more meaning in their lives. Researchers conducted five studies of nearly 1,300 adults in the U.S. and Canada, pooling data from lab-based tasks, online surveys, and experiments. They were testing the hypothesis that experiencing a sense of shared reality with a close partner reduces uncertainty about one's environment, which in turn boosts meaning in work and life. For instance, they found that front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Americans during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations reported feeling less uncertainty and more meaning when their partner's understanding of the world matched their own. 'Our approach was different from earlier work on how relationships promote meaning, which tended to focus on aspects like belonging or support,' said lead author and psychologist M. Catalina Enestrom in a press release. 'We set out to explore whether sharing thoughts, ideas and concerns about the world with a romantic partner could enhance meaning by reducing uncertainty about one's environment.' Having that shared perception of reality with your partner, according to the study, helps make your reality seem true while validating your perspective. Over time, the more experiences you share with your partner, the closer you can become to sharing a worldview. 'As couples accumulate shared experiences, shared feelings, goals, and memories, they develop a generalized shared reality,' senior author John Lydon, psychology professor at McGill University, said in the press release. 'This is different from simply feeling close or supported. It's not just 'my partner gets me,' it's 'we get it.'' Enestrom pointed out that shared reality can emerge from both aligned experiences and interpretations. 'Shared reality can form, for instance, when a couple watches a horror movie together and one or both partners perceive that they both find it scary,' she said. 'But shared reality doesn't necessarily require shared experiences. One partner can describe a stressful event they experienced, and if the other partner sees it the same way, this too can foster shared reality.' The more shared reality experiences you accumulate together, the more likely you are to build a shared understanding of the world in general, she explained. As couples become closer through a shared reality, researchers also observed a greater sense of meaning in life, where individuals have a strong feeling of purpose, which research indicates can lead to better coping, greater happiness, and improved health outcomes. For more on relationships: 5 things most Americans say are true about love and successful relationships Marriage has a surprising link to dementia risk, new study finds Couples most likely to divorce share a common economic trait, research shows This story was originally featured on
