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Payment discrimination in Hollywood is an ongoing issue for many industry actors, extras, writers, and stagehands. The 2023 Writer's Guild of America strike brought the hectic movie-making sector to a standstill in the face of such rampant inequality.

In this interview with The Breakfast Club, actor Ernie Hudson spoke about how he moved to Hollywood with hopes of becoming rich and famous. However, he would eventually realise you can become popular and poor.

Famous Pose Emmy-winning actor Billy Porter has also spoken on this subject, stating that the general public has a particular perception that we're millionaires. However, he was forced to put his house for sale due to the financial crisis; Porter and many other actors, writers, and stagehands made Tinseltown go around living paycheck to paycheck.

Continued….. You might think boo-hoo, but many Africans in America are shown these actors and entertainers as examples of success that show anyone can make it in 'show business'. However, the truth is a lot more complicated, as many are not making it as we were/are led to believe.

Algeria has slammed France for recognising Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara. Algiers says the decision reflects 'questionable political calculations' and undermines peace efforts in the region. There’s also suspicion it's linked to the exploitation of Western Sahara’s vast phosphate reserves needed for the manufacture of fertiliser. Before we get on to that, here’s some history.

Morocco asserted control in Western Sahara after Spain’s colonial rule over the region ended in 1975. That triggered a 16-year war with the Polisario Front, a liberation organisation demanding the territory’s right to self-determination. A UN-backed ceasefire was brokered in 1991 but collapsed in 2020.

Continued….. For decades, successive French governments attempted to stay neutral on the issue. However, in February 2024, Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne declared Paris backed Morocco's 'autonomy plan' for Western Sahara. Two months later, France announced it supported Moroccan investments in the territory through the French Development Agency (AFD). These investments support phosphate mining and fertiliser manufacturing.

According to the US Geological Survey agency, Western Sahara holds about 70 per cent of the world’s phosphate reserves, a key ingredient in the manufacture of fertiliser.

REMINDING AMBER ROSE OF TRUMP’S RACISM

American TV personality Amber Rose spoke in support of Donald Trump’s presidential bid at the Republican National Convention. In her mind-boggling speech, she claimed Trump is not a racist and will save America’s new generation of babies!

African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim (@ahmed.ghoneim.official) has a reality-check for her in this bumper edition of Africa in 90 (Africa in 210!). He runs though a host of cases that leave little doubt The Donald is America’s racist-in-chief.

Please note: calling out Trump for what he is is categorically not an endorsement of Kamala Harris or any other potential Democratic Party candidate!

WHY DO BLACK CHURCHES WELCOME CROOKED POLITICIANS?

Why do Black churches welcome ‘crooked’ politicians? It’s a question asked by podcaster Sabby Salvati following President Joe Biden’s recent appearance at the Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, in Philadelphia. He also pulled off a similar stunt in January when he visited the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church Charleston, in South Carolina.

For Sabby, it’s more than an invasion of a sacred space by politics. She sees it as a collaboration between Black community ‘misleadership’ and the political class that controls it. For her, it makes no sense churches open their doors to leaders who bankroll Israel and Ukraine, but ignore the poverty of congregations who can’t afford to put money on the collection plate.

Continued….. Mt.Airy is no stranger to U.S. politicians. Republican President George Bush, whose father’s presidency was marked by criticism of his inaction on HIV/AIDS, made a visit there in 2007 for World Aids Day. It’s also received other notable guests such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Do you agree with Sabby on this?

Video credit: @Sabbysabs2

SISTER SOULJAH ON KU KLUX KLAN

In this 1992 interview with Larry King, rapper and activist Sister Souljah responds to an incredible accusation.
A caller claims her actions are on a par with white supremacist David Duke. Her answer is as powerful as it gets.
To do it justice, you’ll have to listen to the clip, but let’s just say she lays out some history that should never be forgotten.

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a violent white supremacy organisation founded after the U.S. Civil War. Since 1865, the KKK has killed many Blacks in the U.S., including by lynching. Members burn crosses and march wearing hooded gowns to terrorise Black people. In addition to hate crimes, the KKK has opposed any form of equality with Africans in the U.S. Perhaps that’s why the caller thinks our sister doesn’t deserve to wear her jewels?

Video credit: @Larry King Live, CNN

KAMALA: BLACK FACE OF US IMPERIALISM

So, it looks almost certain US Vice President Kamala Harris will be the Democratic Party’s torch-bearer for the 2024 presidential elections. After Joe Biden quit his bid for a second term, she’s expected to get the nod at the Democratic National Convention slated for August. And if that goes to plan, she’ll then fight Republican Donald Trump for the presidency.

But do you think a Harris victory would signal anything good for the Global South? Her record shows little difference to Trump when it comes to pushing US imperialism around the world.

African Stream’s Salifu Mack takes us through her foreign misadventures in Latin America and the Caribbean.

AGEING AFRICAN LEADERS SHOULD BOW OUT LIKE BIDEN?

US President Joe Biden recently announced his withdrawal from November’s presidential race amid concerns of age-related cognitive impairment following the 27 June debate against fellow hopeful and former president, Donald Trump.

While the empire has agreed on the risks another Biden term would carry, a few African countries might consider the same.

Here’s a short list of aging heads of state, featuring 72-year-old South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, 72-year-old Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and 91-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya. All three have given Africans reason to worry. 

Continued……Take Kiir, appearing to urinate on himself in a December 2022 clip that he later arrested journalists for recording. Meanwhile, Tinubu gave an incoherent address at the 2023 UN climate-change conference, COP28. Plus, onlookers at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022 witnessed Biya’s three minutes of confusion on stage with his handlers.

It’s hard to imagine healthier candidates don’t exist on a continent of more than a billion people.

In the comments, please let us know what you think about these figures and who else should be on the list.

INDIGINEOUS AUSTRALIANS CELEBRATE CULTURE WEEK

Indigenous people of Australia recently celebrated NAIDOC week - a festival of their culture. (NAIDOC is the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee.)

What started in the late 1930s as a day of protest against colonial mistreatment that was deliberately timed to coincide with Australia Day has grown into a week-long celebration of Indigenous identity, rooted in the land for 60,000 years.

The event is especially important today, as issues from a century ago still persist. Australia last year voted against recognising Indigenous people. A referendum to enshrine in law the obligation to consult Indigenous people before implementing policies that affect them was defeated - with 60% of Australians voting against it.

SOUTH SUDAN OVERCOME ANTHEM HITCH FOR OLYMPIC DEBUT WIN

Nothing seems to faze South Sudan’s basketball team. When they lined up against Puerto Rico for their first-ever Olympic match, organisers mistakenly played the national anthem of neighbouring Sudan. Over 99% of South Sudanese voted to separate from Sudan in 2011, so imagine their frustration in hearing the Olympic games still thought they were one country. But Sunday’s disrespectful mix-up only spurred the Bright Stars to victory, according to their forward Nuni Omot. His side claimed a 90-79 win to go joint-top of their group with the mighty USA, who they face on Wednesday. And you’d be foolish to write off the Africans’ chances in that one, given they only lost to the USA by a single point in a friendly a few days ago.

Continued….. Before that match, former NBA stars and pundits ridiculed the South Sudan players but were soon left eating humble pie.

Whatever lies ahead for the Bright Stars, the world’s youngest country has had an amazing journey. It gained independence from Sudan in 2013, and its men’s national basketball side didn’t play their first competitive match until 2017. Now, they’re on the brink of reaching the quarter-finals of their first-ever Olympics.

We could be hearing the South Sudan national anthem a couple more times yet!

PRAYING ‘THE DEVIL’ DOESN’T TAKE VENEZUELA!

Oil-rich Venezuela has been in the crosshairs of the US for decades, enduring crippling sanctions aimed at provoking a regime-change that will enable easy exploitation of the country’s natural wealth.

Resisting imperialism has made life difficult for millions of Venezuelans, as their government sticks to the principles established by late revolutionary leader, Hugo Chávez.

Not one to cower under Washington's threats, Chávez - addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2006 - had choice words for the then-US president, George W. Bush, branding him the Devil. It is a speech that still resonates today.

Continued….. Incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has just been declared the winner of the July 28th election - but the US is already interfering, saying, ”the will of the people of Venezuela must be respected” - or, translated: "We are not pleased with the results as they do not serve our interests, and therefore Maduro must go!"

It’s the kind of treatment Africans have also had to endure.

How do you think Chávez would have handled this kind of meddling?

Video credit: UNTV

This image has sparked some debate online. It shows members of St. Cloud, Minnesota‘s Somali community donning their MAGA caps in support of Donald Trump. That’s quite a shocker, given the things he’s had to say about Somalia and Somali immigrants - including as president. He branded Somali refugees a “disaster,” accusing them of bringing crime and terrorism into the United States.

Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress - as Democratic Representative from Minnesota - has been a frequent target of Trump’s disparaging remarks. He has accused her of being unpatriotic and has made xenophobic statements about her, which have been widely criticised as racist and Islamophobic. His insinuations include doubting the legitimacy of her citizenship and labelling her as a representative of a problematic ideology, which has amplified divisions and hostility towards the Somali and broader Muslim communities.

Continued….. One of Trump’s many bigoted policies includes the infamous Muslim Ban, which was enacted immediately after his 2017 inauguration. This ban restricted travel from several predominantly Muslim countries, including Somalia. The policy was widely criticised as discriminatory and harmful to Muslim communities worldwide, including Somalis in the US, who felt targeted and marginalised by the sweeping restrictions.

With all that in mind, why would Somalis in the US back Trump this time round? Answers in the comments please!

Image credit: @suud_olat

CHAVEZ’S SOLIDARITY WITH HAITI

Venezuela’s election authority has declared incumbent president Nicolas Maduro the winner of Suday’s presidential election. The National Electoral Council announced that Maduro amassed 51.2% of the 11-million votes cast. His closest challenger, opposition candidate Edmundo González, garnered 44%.

Maduro’s victory means the Bolivarian revolutionary project initiated by late President Hugo Chávez continues to move forward. Many in Africa will remember Chávez for deepening ties between Caracas and the African continent.

Under his leadership, two Africa-South America Summits were held to enhance South-to-South relations.

Continued….. Chávez was also the first Latin-American president to openly declare himself of African descent. His powerful words, “We carry Africa inside us, Africa is part of us, Latin-Caribbean America cannot be understood without Africa,” continue to inspire across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chávez was not only a man of words but he backed them with action. While in office, he played a critical role in improving the lives of the historically marginalised Afro-Venezuelans.

His push for economic and social policies that empowered people of African descent went beyond the borders of his homeland to places such as Haiti, where millions benefitted from his government’s solidarity and support. African Stream’s Clinton Nzala explores that side of Chávez’s legacy in this report. Please let us know your reactions in the comments.

Scandal has rocked Judo at the Olympics, over accusations an Algerian athlete deliberately exceeded his weight limit to avoid facing an Israeli opponent.

Messaoud Redouane Dris was set to fight Israel’s Tohar Butbul on Monday (July 29th) in the 73kg class. However the Algerian was disqualified after weighing 400 grammes over the maximum, handing Butbul a walkover win.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has stated that it will investigate the incident following a claim by the Israeli Olympic Committee that Dris purposefully gained weight in order to avoid competing with an Israeli athlete.

The IJF has made it clear that if Dris is found guilty, he will face the consequences. This incident, however, is not an isolated one, as the IJF has noted that similar cases of athletes exceeding their weight limits have occurred in previous Olympics.