Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

February 17, 2024. 

February 17, 2024, was the last time I bought a pair of shoes. It took me a second to remember this because I disliked the shoes I bought on that date and forgot I owned them — probably because of that dislike. On that day, I got one of those coveted “Got ‘Em” notifications on Nike’s SNKRS app for a pair of Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagineds.”  That notification used to bring me great joy; on that day, I remember feeling like I’d maybe just wasted $215. 

After some reflection, I can confirm that I did, indeed, waste $215. I remember opening the shoe box, looking at the shoes and wishing I had passed on them until I’d seen them in person. I forgot I owned them until recently when I saw a person wearing them at a store and thinking, “I don’t like those shoes,” only to remember that I spent the equivalent of a kid’s week in summer camp — OK, maybe not a whole week, maybe like three days in camp — on some shoes I have, maybe, worn once, and am likely to never wear again. 

What’s most interesting about that story isn’t that I wasted money or that $215 isn’t enough to put your kid in camp for a week, but that I can actually remember the last pair of shoes I purchased. For my life, that’s kind of uncanny. I used to buy multiple pairs of shoes a month with reckless abandon, so much so that I couldn’t remember what shoes I’d purchased even a week ago. I had a shoe budget, on purpose. I’d peruse sneaker blogs and shoe pages on Instagram in search of the latest drops from shoe brands I loved and sniff out collaborations that would result in cool, limited-edition kicks that fit my particular taste and aesthetic. 

And then I just stopped. 

It’s a weird feeling. I’m a shoe person. I like having lots of shoes that can go with nearly any outfit I could ever dream up. I like having shoes that have interesting stories and designs. I liked buying shoes. Now, though, I haven’t been interested enough in a pair of shoes to make a purchase in months. That’s not to say that I haven’t seen shoes that I like or might want, I still peruse sneaker sites and blogs and pages and the like. I just feel uninterested in all that I’ve seen. The closest I’ve come since February to wanting to buy a pair of shoes was a recent release, a collaboration between artists Nina Chanel Abney and an Air Jordan 3. I like the shoe a lot but I didn’t feel compelled to buy a pair. I watched so many sneaker unboxings of it trying to make myself buy them, but I was able to move on pretty quickly. 

Lifestyle

This is a new space for me to be in. I’ve sold some shoes but mostly given away dozens of shoes to friends and friends with kids who might need a basically brand-new pair of whatever I had. I don’t know if my interest in shoes is waning. As I said, I still peruse my old sneaker haunts, but I don’t do it as much. I don’t spend hours watching unboxings for the newest kicks from my favorite sneaker content creators. I don’t see people rocking cool shoes and think that I need a pair. I take note and keep it moving. Funny enough, I don’t even miss buying shoes. That’s been the craziest part; I used to love the joy of buying them and now I’m like, “Great, I have more money!” 

The hunt for a shoe that I loved at a price I was willing to pay used to be sport, now I’m a very happy spectator. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t feel like shoe companies are getting as creative as they used to. Maybe I’m bored and have gotten all I needed to get out of the sport of owning sneakers. Perhaps I’ve reached the natural end of my sneaker journey and am content with my collection (which is still pretty sizable and could use more downsizing) and am moving on to other endeavors. 

Whatever the reason, I’m OK. I’ve experienced no hives, fevers or withdrawals. As it turns out, not buying shoes for probably the longest stretch in my history since I’ve had my own money has proven to be … just fine. 

Now if I could just downsize this book collection …

Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Dear Culture” on theGrio Black Podcast Network. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest) but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said “Unknown” (Blackest).

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Erika Giorgia Anoeta Saraceni is a name that’s quickly becoming synonymous with Italian athletic excellence. The 18-year-old from Bergamo has already significantly impacted the track and field scene with her exceptional talent and versatility.

Saraceni’s athletic journey began at a young age, and her rapid progression is a testament to her dedication and natural ability. She excels in a range of events, from sprints to jumps, showcasing her remarkable athleticism.

Her most recent standout performance came on January 21, 2024, when she clocked an impressive 7.82 seconds in the 60-meter dash at the Impianto Indoor in Bergamo. This result is just one example of Saraceni’s speed and potential.

Beyond the sprint events, Erika Saraceni has also demonstrated exceptional talent in the jumps. Her personal best of 13.43 meters in the triple jump, achieved on June 29, 2024, in La Spezia, is particularly noteworthy.

Saraceni’s impact extends beyond individual events. She is also a valuable member of the Italian relay team, contributing to their success in the 4×100-meter relay.

With her impressive performances and growing social media following (over 70,000 on Instagram and 20,000 on TikTok), Erika Saraceni is undoubtedly a rising star in Italian athletics.

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LAKE CHARLES, La. (KADN) — The family of Legend Jack, the 4-year-old found dead behind the Louisiana Welcome Center in Vinton, has organized a fundraiser to pay for funeral expenses.

Dion Polk, the little boy’s paternal grandmother, said he had been in their care for the past few months. She added he was a playful, intelligent 4-year-old who loved Sonic, Ninja Turtles, and Happy Meals.

A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money. The goal is to collect $20,000. CLICK HERE to donate.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory said a child’s body was found in the water at the welcome center on Monday, July 8. According to Sheriff Guillory, his deputies were contacted around 3 p.m. after witnesses saw the body in the water. 

As the investigation continued, detectives were able to identify the child as 4-year-old Legend Jack. Detectives were advised the child was last seen on Saturday, with his mother, Aaliyah Jack, 25, of Lake Charles, and his 1-year-old brother.

CPSO continued the search for the 1-year-old child, and Tuesday morning, July 9, around 9 a.m., deputies were dispatched to a call in reference to a passerby observing a baby in a ditch on I-10 East near Mile Marker 10. When deputies arrived, they were able to positively identify the child as the missing 1-year-old.

“This is a tragic incident our detectives are currently investigating,” stated Sheriff Stitch Guillory. “Fortunately, we were able to locate the 1-year-old, who was taken to a local hospital to be checked out. He is now safe and in the care of authorities. We understand the community’s concern and are committed to ensuring justice for the children involved. CPSO detectives are actively working to gather all the information and details surrounding this case and the death of the 4-year-old. We will dedicate all necessary resources to ensure a thorough investigation. Our hearts go out to the family members of these two children.”

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A Texas truck driver is being hailed a hero for saving the baby he spotted crawling near I-10 in Calcasieu Parish.

“As I was going down the highway, I noticed an image to the right over an embankment and I thought maybe it was a doll that someone had thrown out the window,” said Reginald Walton, a driver for DHL Supply Chain. “But as I was passing by, I saw it move and I said ‘that looked like a baby.’”

Walton told News15 he slowed down, pulled over, and called 911.

“So, I got out of my vehicle and walked back down to where I thought I saw the child, and sure enough, there was a little boy sitting down there. He smiled at me and then he stood up and started crying and walked towards me, and once he walked toward me I grabbed his hand and he stopped crying,” explained Walton.

The baby, who deputies believe was on the side of the interstate for two days, was taken to the hospital in remarkably good condition. He was found not far from where his four-year-old brother was found dead Monday.

“It’s definitely the weather that we received from Beryl on Sunday and Monday that was responsible for saving the one-year-old. We had rain bands coming in and we had a lot of clouds covering. So, in Louisiana, this time of year, is not unusual to have, you know, 92- 93-degree temperatures with a heat index of 105-106. The fact that the one-year-old survived on the side of the road for two days with no water and no food… we are thankful that we had the weather that we had. Without the weather that we had, we possibly would have two dead kids,” Sheriff Guillory told The Weather Channel.

The child has been treated for relatively minor injuries and was released into protective custody. Walton noted he feels a bond with the child and hopes he gets updates throughout the years.

The investigation is ongoing.

For many veterans, the sounds of fireworks on the Fourth of July or any sudden bang resembling a gunshot can be triggering. For one Black veteran in Miami, her trigger was a sudden ambush from police for allegedly no good reason at all.

Naomi Simmons tells NBC Miami she was in her home on June 14 with her 7-year-old daughter when their peace was disrupted by a loud bang on her daughter’s window. When she went to open the front door, Simmons told reporters all she saw was two men standing with guns drawn, pointing in her face.

“They didn’t say anything, so I just thought it was random people,” she said.

When she asked why the men were there, she said they finally identified themselves as Miami-Dade police officers. Simmons said they told her they were looking for Marquise Wiley, who had an active warrant for a felony gun charge.

To her surprise, officers told her the address on his ID was the address of her home where she’d been living for over a year, the report says. Miami-Dade authorities told NBC Miami they were ordered by a judge to transfer Wiley to Miami-Dade County jail for the charge.

They also said that at the time officers responded to Simmons’ home, Wiley did not appear to be in custody according to their databases.

After failing to locate him at the home, the officers left. However, Simmons told reporters she decided to do her own research via her cellphone and found where Wiley was: Broward County Jail. According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Wiley was there for the past few months on a robbery charge and immediately transferred to prison after his guilty verdict came down in May.

So, why were the cops even at Simmons’ house…? The Air Force vet asked the same question but also told NBC Miami she was left shaken by the encounter, reflecting on her PTSD from serving in Afghanistan. Her neighbor, who served in Vietnam, echoed the notion, telling the outlet many soldiers died innocently opening a door only to experience gunfire.

Simmons refuses to chalk up the incident as an honest mishap.

“Frustrating and scary because you see all these things on the news about people that look like me, men and women, who are getting killed because police showed up at the wrong house,” she told NBC Miami.

The incident draws eerie comparisons to the evening Breonna Taylor was killed back in 2020 during a botched drug raid. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Williams, who survived the incident, recalled his door being bussed down by shadowy figures with guns who never once announced themselves as SWAT officers with the Louisville Police Department.

After firing a warning shot and striking one of the cops in the leg, a hail of bullets came flying into the apartment, many of which struck and killed Taylor as she stood behind Williams in the hallway.

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Lucasfilm today released the trailer for the highly anticipated second season of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. The animated series, set 200 years before The Phantom Menace during the High Republic era, will return to Disney+ and Disney Jr. on Wednesday, August 14.

Following the adventures of young Jedi in training, Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs, the series explores the early days of Jedi life as they master the Force, embark on galactic adventures, and assist those in need. Season two expands upon their journey, introducing new characters such as Padawan Wes Vinik and his astromech droid, RO-M1 while deepening the younglings’ connection to the Force.

“We’re excited to continue the adventures of Kai, Lys, and Nubs in the second season of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,” said Michael Olson, showrunner and executive producer. “With new challenges, friendships, and lessons to be learned, this season promises to be an exciting and heartwarming experience for fans of all ages.”

Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is executive produced by James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes from Lucasfilm.

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The 2024 Emmy Award nominations were announced on Wednesday morning with Black talent picking up nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Lead Actor, and more. 

Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph joined actor Tony Hale and Television Academy chair Cris Abrego to announce this year’s nominees at the El Capitan Theatre in a ceremony that was also streamed live.

Fresh off her Emmy win at the 75th Emmy Awards in January, Ayo Edebiri is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series for her performance in “The Bear.” Quinta Brunson also received an Emmy nom for Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series for her role in “Abbott Elementary,” along with Maya Rudolph, nominated for her performance in the Apple TV+ series “Loot.” 

Idris Elba and Donald Glover are both Emmy nominees this year. Elba is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a drama series for his performance in “Hijack,” while Glover received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a drama series for his role in “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” 

“The Morning Show” co-stars Nicole Beharie and Karen Pittman are both nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama series for their roles in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ show. “Abbott Elementary” continues its reign as the comedy king of television with co-stars Ralph, Janelle James, and Tyler James Williams all receiving outstanding supporting nominations for their performances. 

Aja Naomi King nabbed a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for her performance in “Lessons in Chemistry.” Lamorne Morris received his first-ever Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for his role in “Fargo.” Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won her first Oscar earlier this year, is now nominated for her first Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” 

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“RuPaul’s Drag Race” also continued its Emmys dominance, earning eight nominations including Outstanding Reality Competition program. 

The 2024 Emmy Awards will broadcast live from L.A. Live Peacock Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT on ABC. 

Check out the partial list of top nominees below, per Variety. For the complete list, visit Emmys.com.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Idris Elba (“Hijack”)

Donald Glover (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”) 

Walton Goggins (“Fallout”)  

Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”)  

Hiroyuki Sanada (“Shōgun”)

Dominic West (“The Crown”) 

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)

Carrie Coon (“The Gilded Age”)

Maya Erskine (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”)

Anna Sawai (“Shōgun”)

Imelda Staunton (“The Crown”)

Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”)

Drama Series

“The Crown” (Netflix)

“Fallout” (Prime Video)

“The Gilded Age” (Max)

“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video)

“Shōgun” (FX)

“Slow Horses” (Apple TV+)

“3 Body Problem” (Netflix)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt Berry (“What We Do in the Shadows”)

Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”)  

Steve Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”)  

Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”)  

Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”)

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (“Reservation Dogs”)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”)

Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”)

Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”)

Maya Rudolph (“Loot”)

Jean Smart (“Hacks”)

Kristen Wiig (“Palm Royale”)

Comedy Series

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

“The Bear” (FX)

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Max)

“Hacks” (Max)

“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)

“Palm Royale” (Apple TV+)

“Reservation Dogs” (FX)

“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series

Matt Bomer (“Fellow Travelers”)  

Richard Gadd (“Baby Reindeer”)  

Jon Hamm (“Fargo”)  

Tom Hollander (“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans) 

Andrew Scott (“Ripley”)

Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series

Jodie Foster (“True Detective: Night Country”)  

Brie Larson (“Lessons in Chemistry”)  

Juno Temple (“Fargo”)  

Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”) 

Naomi Watts (“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”)

Limited or Anthology Series

“Baby Reindeer” (Netflix)

“Fargo” (FX)

“Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)

“Ripley” (Netflix)

“True Detective: Night Country” (Max)

Outstanding Talk Series

“The Daily Show”  

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”   

“Late Night With Seth Meyers”

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”

Reality Competition Program

“The Amazing Race”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race”

“Top Chef”

“The Traitors”

“The Voice”

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski (“The Gilded Age”)

Nicole Beharie (“The Morning Show”)

Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown Netflix”)

Greta Lee (“The Morning Show”)

Lesley Manville (“The Crown”)

Karen Pittman (“The Morning Show”)

Holland Taylor (“The Morning Show”)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano (“Shōgun”)

Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)

Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)

Jon Hamm (“The Morning Show”)

Takehiro Hira (“Shōgun”)

Jack Lowden (“Slow Horses”)

Jonathan Pryce (“The Crown”)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Carol Burnett (“Palm Royale”)

Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”)

Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)

Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”)

Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”)

Meryl Streep (“Only Murders In The Building”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Lionel Boyce (“The Bear”)

Paul W. Downs (“Hacks”)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”)

Paul Rudd (“Only Murders In The Building”)

Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary”)

Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)

Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series

Dakota Fanning (“Ripley”)

Lily Gladstone (“Under The Bridge”)

Jessica Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”)

Aja Naomi King (“Lessons In Chemistry”)

Diane Lane (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”)

Nava Mau (“Baby Reindeer”)

Kali Reis (“True Detective: Night Country”)

Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series

Jonathan Bailey (“Fellow Travelers”)

Robert Downey Jr. (“The Sympathizer”)

Tom Goodman-Hill (“Baby Reindeer”)

John Hawkes (“True Detective: Night Country”)

Lamorne Morris (“Fargo”)

Lewis Pullman (“Lessons In Chemistry”)

Treat Williams (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”)

Outstanding Animated Program

“Blue Eye Samurai”

“Bob’s Burgers”

“Scavengers Reign”

“The Simpsons”

“X-Men ’97”

Though it was initially reported that 8-year-old Noah Bush simply wandered into a construction pit and drowned in May, his family was not willing to leave it to that and hired a private investigator to look deeper into the case.

After increased pressure from the family and the community for more than two months, local Georgia police have now ruled Bush’s death a homicide and have charged two minors in the case, claiming that they pushed him into the pit where he drowned, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

The two suspects in the case are 10 and 11 years old and have both been charged with involuntary manslaughter and simple battery. Due to Georgia law regarding minors, their names cannot be released to the public.

While it was initially reported there was no foul play in Bush’s death after the autopsy, police changed their tune after new information they discovered during their investigation. But in a new twist in the case, the mother of one of the boys accused has now been charged.

More from WSAV-TV:

Natalie Hardison was arrested on 3 charges, including a probation violation and making false statements.

Wayne County Sheriff Chuck Moseley tells News 3 that the charges Hardison faces are not directly connected to Bush’s death or the case against her son.

Noah’s mother, Demetrice Bush, has released a statement, sounding optimistic that an adult was charged, saying, “Our family is grateful that at least one of the adults involved is being prosecuted. Until everyone involved, in any way is held accountable under the law we will not stop fighting for justice. We thank the community for their ongoing support.”

Adding to her words, Bush family attorney Francys Johnson said, “The arrest of this child’s mother is another significant step towards full justice for Noah’s family. We knew that something of this magnitude could not have happened and some adults not know about it and be involved.”

Bail is set for $10,000 for the 11-year-old boy and $5,000 for the 10-year-old boy, according to WSAV.

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Chris Brown’s 11:11 tour has been making waves on social media. From dynamic performances to old classics like “Take You Down,” Chris Brown brings us into the world of his new album 11:11  but often neglects to show love for some of his earlier hits.

On July 14th at State Farm, Chris Brown performed his third show in the city. The show is broken up into four parts: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, reminiscent of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Opening with hits like “Heat,” “Go Girlfriend,” and “New Flame” for the Fire element, the set consistently features fire, lasers, and moving platforms. In Atlanta, Chris Brown reaffirmed his reputation as the bad boy of R&B by performing “Freak,” his diss track aimed at Atlanta rapper Quavo.

Brown is a dynamic performer whose choreographed dance moves and artistic visuals showcase his true talent and the efforts of his team. The set design features trap doors and various shapes, adding to the theatrical experience. Brown even levitates over the crowd to his iconic circular stage, as he did 10 years ago, to perform classics like “Take You Down” and “Wet The Bed” before flying over the audience again to ramp up the energy with “Pills & Automobiles,” remixed with Drake and Sexy Redd’s “Rich Baby Daddy.”

While Brown performs a plethora of hits from his extensive catalog, certain classics like “Deuces,” “Look At Me Now,” “Forever,” and “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” are notably absent from the set list. To engage the audience further, Brown introduces a fun game at the end of the show where a rotating wheel of beloved hits randomly generates three songs from his discography to play.

For Sunday night’s show, the wheel landed on “Ya Man Ain’t Me,” a deep cut from his 2005 debut album, “Show Me,” a collaboration with Kid Ink, and “Kiss Kiss,” another classic surprisingly missing from the main setlist.

@tatyanaarrington

😭😭😭😭 #chrisbrown #1111tour

♬ original sound – tatyanaarrington

Despite these omissions, fans of Chris Brown will undoubtedly enjoy this tour. However, one can’t help but wonder what a Chris Brown Eras Tour would look like or a show dedicated to some of his most beloved albums like F.A.M.E. or his debut album Chris Brown. Such a tour could potentially offer a more comprehensive look at his musical journey and give long-time fans a chance to relive his greatest hits in a more nostalgic setting.

Overall, Chris Brown’s 11:11 tour delivers a visually stunning and musically rich experience but leaves room for more fan-favorite classics that could make his performances even more unforgettable.

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Though you would never know it today, before he was selected as Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, J.D. Vance repeatedly called out Trump and the Republican Party’s politics of racism. 

However, years later, the U.S. senator from Ohio emerged as a carbon copy of the former president based on his many views, including those about race. Critics who spoke with theGrio slammed Vance for his duplicity, noting that when it became politically expedient, he adopted the very ideologies of Trump he once denounced. 

“He ran on brazen white nationalism,” said Reecie Colbert, a political commentator and host of Sirius XM’s “The Reecie Colbert Show.” She added, “He made a calculation, which turned out to be correct, that by going all in with the white nationalist party, he was going to go further.”

In 2016, Vance told PBS Newshour, “There is definitely an element of Donald Trump’s support that has its basis in racism.” According to CNN, in another interview, the Yale Law School graduate said, “Race is definitely a part of the Trump phenomenon.”

“The Trump people are certainly more racist than the average white professional,” Vance told POLITICO that same year. The “Hillbilly Elegy” author, who at the time was embraced as a sort of sage for white poor and working-class Americans, warned that Trump’s rhetoric would cause white people to “become more racist over time.”

Vance’s calling out of Trump on his perceived racism was seen as a refreshing conservative take amid years of racially tinged attacks on America’s first Black president, Barack Obama, which became a party norm. However, six years later, when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, trailing his opponents in a crowded primary, a new J.D. Vance emerged. 

In a campaign ad, Vance appeared to embrace elements of the “Great Replacement Theory,” a white nationalist far-right conspiracy theory that Black and brown people are replacing white Americans. The theory was embraced by domestic terrorists who committed mass shootings of Black Americans, including the 2022 grocery store shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., and the 2023 Dollar General store shooting in Jacksonville, Fla.

“Are you a racist? Do you hate Mexicans? The media calls us racists for wanting to build Trump’s wall,” Vance, who earned the endorsement of Trump, said in a campaign ad. “They censor us. But it doesn’t change the truth: Joe Biden’s open border is killing Ohioans with more illegal drugs and more Democrat voters pouring into this country.”

Colbert, noting Vance’s espousing of the Great Replacement Theory and support for the anti-Black Lives Matter shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, told theGrio, “This is a person who is very, very, very dangerous to the Black community.” 

She said the Trump campaign’s selection of Vance as the vice presidential nominee shows Republicans are “going all in on the white working class and white rural voters.” She added, “They’re doing so at the absolute expense of making any kind of inroads with Black voters, with people of color [and] with women.”

Ironically, Vance argued in a leaked private text message from 2016 to a former Yale Law roommate that the Republican Party needed to “expand” its tent to Black people. He also called Trump “America’s Hitler.”

“We are, whether we like it or not, the party of lower-income, lower-education white people,” Vance wrote to now Georgia state Rep. Josh McLaurin. “I have been saying for a long time that we need to offer those people something (and hell, maybe even expand our appeal to working class black people in the process) or a demagogue would.” 

Markus Batchelor, national political director at People For the American Way, said that despite his past critiques of Trump, Vance has “weaponized” the Great Replacement Theory, “championed anti-equity and inclusion legislation,” and accused Democrats of “usurping white votes with immigrant ones.”

“Those ideas are now the center of Project 2025 and the GOP platform approved this week in Milwaukee,” he added. “A Trump-Vance administration will do everything in their power — and expand their authority — to turn back the clock on race in our country.”

Batchelor continued, “The Trump-Vance agenda on immigration, abortion, public education, workers’ rights, voting rights, and many other issues will have the most negative impact on Black and brown Americans.”

As a U.S. senator, Vance introduced a bill that called for all diversity, equity and inclusion programs and funding to be eliminated from the federal government. Project 2025, a 900-page manifesto that lays out a policy agenda for a second Trump administration, proposes a similar purge of DEI. 

Colbert points out that Vance is a close ally of Russell Vought, a former Trump White House official who authored part of Project 2025. 

“He’s the standard bearer of the New Right. That’s what they’re calling it,” she said. “I think that J.D. Vance … is going to be very much out front, taking up the Trump mantle and actually pushing it even more to the extreme.”

Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator, said Vance, 39, is a threat to Black and brown communities because “he’s young enough … to be dangerous for a very long time.”

She argued that if Vance’s “convictions” about Trump’s racism were real, he would have “turned down the invitation” to be his running mate. 

“His ambitions are more important than an honest assessment of President Trump,” said Turner. 

“He has gone and kissed the ring and bowed down to Trump to try and gain power and his position, and it’s worked for him,” said U.S. Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

She said the choice of Vance as Trump’s running mate presents a “stark contrast” between Republicans and Democrats. 

“The Democratic Party looks like America. Trump’s party is looking like what they want it to be, a white Christian nationalist country … They’re not hiding it anymore,” Plaskett told theGrio.

“They’re saying exactly who they are, and we should believe them, whether it’s Trump’s Project 2025 or the rulings from the Supreme Court that are letting him lay the groundwork for a fascist regime.”

Colbert predicted that in the weeks and months leading up to the Nov. 5 election, Republicans will try to “sanitize” his image.

“There’s going to be a lot of talk about his age, and the fact he has an Indian wife, and he’s Yale-educated … and present him as some sort of intellectual,” she noted. “But the reality is, he is a vile, crass white nationalist.”

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