Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson is developing a ‘Betty Boop’ movie and will star in the lead role. However, some critics call this a “race swap” since Betty Boop has historically been portrayed as a white woman. But the character’s origins and influences include significant contributions from Black artists, making Brunson a fitting choice for the role. Created in 1930 by Max Fleischer, the character quickly became a symbol of liberation during the depression era and one of the most iconic figures in 20th-century pop culture. Although Helen Kane is widely speculated to have inspired Betty Boop, her performances were directly…

As summer quickly approaches and the travel season begins to pick up, tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, leaving many Americans worrying about something much closer to home: gas prices. Analysts have warned that the ongoing global conflict could push oil prices higher and bring gas prices closer to $5 a gallon in some parts of the United States. In cities such as White Plains, New York, prices range from $4.69 to $4.99 per gallon; the state average is now around $4.37, where a year ago it was about three dollars, with an all-time high being a little…