• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Culture

7 Things We Won’t Forget About This Week

Toni Morrison’s rare short story to be published, NYC Mayor Adams insults the working class, and more news you might have missed.
7 Things We Won’t Forget About This Week
By Bry'onna Mention · Updated January 7, 2022

New year, same pandemic! Closing out the first week of the year 2022—though it feels like an extension of 2021 with the loss of Sidney Poitier—there is still so much to look forward to. As announcements of new shows, books, goals, ventures, and babies, rolled in, you might have been too distracted to catch it all. So, here’s a few things you might have missed this week.

1. Saturday Night Live Is Back In 2022 With Ariana DeBose and Roddy Ricch

7 Things We Won’t Forget About This Week
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 07: Ariana DeBose attends Disney Studios’ Los Angeles Premiere of “West Side Story” at El Capitan Theatre on December 07, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Looks like the longest running sketch comedy series is back. Saturday Night Live took a lot of hits in the beginning of the pandemic, but miraculously pushed through, broadcasting sketches from cast members’ homes. However, SNL’s Holiday episode hosted by Paul Rudd was cancelled due to the Omicron variant surge. Hobbling along into the second leg of its 47th season, SNL returns later this month on January 15 with first time appearances from West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose as host and Roddy Ricch as the musical guest.  

2. And The Winner Is… ?

7 Things We Won’t Forget About This Week
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Drake accepts the Best Rap Song award for ‘God’s Plan’ onstage backstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Speaking of taking hits, award season is looking shaky again too. This week, it was announced the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show scheduled for January 31 was postponed. In a joint statement from CBS and the Recording Academy, the Covid surge “contains too many risks.” The Golden Globes, however, is still on, but will be a completely private affair.  Viewers will receive winner updates via Twitter. It will not be live-streamed. But that’s not due to Covid. Earlier in 2021, NBC released a statement that the 2022 Golden Globes would not air after backlash of many snubs from critically-acclaimed Black productions like HBO’s Lovecraft Country and Judas and the Black Messiah. With hopes of reform, the network’s statement said “Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”

3. Rihanna Teases New SAVAGE X FENTY Store

7 Things We Won’t Forget About This Week
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS – NOVEMBER 30: Rihanna, honored as a National Hero, attends the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Square on November 30, 2021 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Prince of Wales arrived in the country ahead of its transition to a republic within the Commonwealth. This week, it formally removes Queen Elizabeth as its head of state and the current governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, will be sworn in as president. (Photo by Toby Melville – Pool/Getty Images)

In a rare appearance on Instagram, Rihanna updated her 116 million followers that she had a whole new experience for them. No, it’s still not a new album. The 33-year-old singer-turned-billionaire business mogul posted an image of a Savage X Fenty store to announce she’s launching in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri)

4. January 6th Is Unofficially Eugene Goodman Day

January 6, marked the one year anniversary to the Capitol Riot. While much of the coverage from big media outlets focused on reactions from the Democrats (Dick and Liz Cheney were the only Republicans present) and Capitol staff and officers, Americans deserved an update from Officer Eugene Goodman. Video footage showed that Officer Goodman, single-handedly, distracted the mob of rioters away from government officials by leading them in the opposite direction. Other footage showed him redirecting Sen. Mitt Romney away from the mob as well. As Officer Eugene Goodman still works at the Capitol, we continue to celebrate him as an American hero.

Remember Officer Eugene Goodman today. pic.twitter.com/kukLXP053N

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 6, 2022

5. Coko Trapped On Interstate For Hours

Hundreds of people were stranded on Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia due to dangerous road conditions from a winter storm. SWV songstress, Coko was among the many. She took to Instagram and shared a few photos of the traffic, captioned, “Yesterday I was stuck on I95 north for 9.5 hours!” The “Weak” singer and her son were grateful to make it safely to a hotel, with only a slightly damaged vehicle.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Only 1 Coko (@therealcokoswv)

6. A Rare Short Story By Toni Morrison To Be Republished

7 Things We Won’t Forget About This Week
(Original Caption) 12/23/85-Albany, New York: Novelist Toni Morrison discusses her venture into playwriting in Albany. Morrison has earned a reputation as one of America’s best fiction writers with her four novels.

Readers will have one more reason to love the late literary giant Toni Morrison. On February 1, a short story called “Recitatif” written and published by Morrison in 1983 will be republished. The rarely seen work, tells of a series of encounters between Roberta and Twyla, one of whom is Black, the other white, but readers will have to guess which is which. With an introduction from Zadie Smith, literary lovers can look forward to familiar themes in Morrison’s work, like complicated sisterhoods and blurred race lines. 

7. Mayor Adams Doesn’t Understand The Level Of Skill To Work In A Pandemic

New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams is off to a rough start. Adams was sworn into office, shortly after the ball dropped at Times Square. In an attempt to get workers back in person at a press conference Adams said “My low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe-shine people, those who work at Dunkin’ Donuts—they don’t have the academic skills to sit in the corner office.” 

Of course he was met with much backlash, particularly from fellow New Yorker, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She tweeted, “The suggestion that any job is ‘low skill’ is a myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions.” It’s laughable to insult the very people that the economy’s survival is contingent on. 

The suggestion that any job is “low skill” is a myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions, little/no healthcare, and low wages.

Plus being a waitress has made me and many others *better* at our jobs than those who’ve never known that life. https://t.co/dhkhBwyNWK

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 5, 2022

Comically enough, while trying to clarify, the former cop called AOC the “word police.” He said, “Everyone wants to take every term you use and try to make it seem that you want to be offensive. The term I really wanted [to use] was low-wage workers. Low-wage workers, they can’t telecommute. Let’s be honest.” Needless to say, this is going to be an interesting four years for the city of New York. 

TOPICS:  Mayor Eric Adams Rihanna Toni Morrison
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now