24 - Charles Barkley's 'Race Card,' Kevin Roberts Declares Gender Diversity 'Over,' and Ninja Warrior and The Future of Sports

Larry Ossei-Mensah is an independent curator & cultural critic whose documented contemporary art happenings for various publications including Uptown and Whitewall Magazine. His writings have profiled some of the most dynamic creatives working today -- Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, Swizz Beatz and street artist JR. As a curator, Ossei-Mensah has organized exhibitions at commercial and nonprofit galleries throughout New York City featuring a roster of critically acclaimed artists including Firelei Baez, ruby amanze, Hugo McCloud, and Derek Fordjour to name a few. Ossei-Mensah is also the Co-Founder of ARTNOIR, a global collective of culturalists who design multimodal experiences aimed to engage this generation’s dynamic and diverse creative class. (Instagram)

Brand Eff Up:

“Charles Barkley to host new TNT show called ‘The Race Card.’” Washington Post

What’s Up?

The new beef between Kevin Roberts from Saatchi and Cindy Gallop.

Saatchi & Saatchi chairman Kevin Roberts thinks the gender diversity in advertising debate is 'over.' Business Insider

“WHY PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN ROBERTS NO LONGER BELONG IN AD AGENCIES.” Pulse on LinkedIn

What’s Good?

Below are a couple more things:

1. The Future of Sports.

Phil: “I am fascinated by things like American Ninja Warrior...the whole nature of the competition aligns with our cultural economy/future perspective.

1. men and women compete on the same courses

2. even though there is one winner, the competitors often train together and support each other

3. it doesn't have the traditional branding/maleness of other sports”

“How to build a $100 million company out of mud,” CNN.

“Why The Tough Mudder, The Color Run And Spartan Race Will Continue To Drive Running's Popularity,” Forbes

Diggin’ in the Crates:

Larry: “Homegoing,” Yaa Gyasi

“Shibumi,” Trevanian

Phil: “Can’t Stop the Prophet” Jeru the Damaja

“Radical Man: The Process of Psycho-Social,” by Charles Hampden Turner

Michael” “Multitude: War and Democracy in the Age of Empire,” Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri