News Information and Media Site: “Rona...like the virus”

THE BIG STORY

The Biden administration reversed a policy that used the coronavirus pandemic to limit immigration

Last April, former president Donald Trump temporarily suspended access to green cards for certain people outside the US seeking to immigrate legally. That included family members of permanent residents, parents and siblings of US citizens, and thousands of people who come to the country as part of a lottery system.

The move was justified as necessary to stop those who posed a "risk" to the labor market during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden moved to reverse Trump's proclamation, the latest attempt by the new administration to quickly undo Trump's restrictive immigration policies. Biden wrote that Trump's rule "harms the United States."

Immigration experts said Biden's reversal of the policy is a big deal. One expert told us the order signed by Trump led to thousands of potential immigrants being blocked from entering the country.

President Joe Biden signs executive orders on Feb. 24, 2021. Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

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STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

The future of Disney's first animated feature film with queer leads, Nimona, is in doubt

Blue Sky Studios was hard at work on Nimona. The film was to be Disney's first feature-length animated movie to showcase queer lead characters, and even a same-sex kiss.

But then employees at the studio say they were told on Feb. 9 that Disney was shutting them down as of April, and that the entire staff would be laid off. They told us the film was about 75% complete, with an estimated 10 months of work to go.

Employees said closing the studio means that Nimona will likely never see the light of day. One told us Disney told Blue Sky Studios the shutdown was due to the economic fallout of COVID-19.

SNAPSHOTS

A YouTuber said a viral prank David Dobrik pulled on him shows sexual assault. Joseth "Seth" Francois told BuzzFeed News he's spent the last year processing what happened to him and now wants to share his story to create change in the industry.

Tom Holland shut down Spider-Man 3 rumors about Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield after teasing the film's official title. Holland, who famously can't resist spilling the beans, played down the reports that previous Spider-Man actors will make a cameo.

This Black designer is challenging fast-fashion retailer Boohoo for allegedly ripping off her designs. In a now-deleted viral tweet, Fisayo Longe accused Boogoo of ripping off one of her signature prints from her growing women's brand Kai Collective.

Left: Kai Collective, Right: Boohoo/Instagram

CREATING AN ARCHIVE

The Black photographers who paved the way for the world we live in now

Over the course of the 20th century, photography gradually became cheaper and more accessible. Eventually, anyone could pick up a camera and document the world as they see it. Anyone could articulate their vision and their priorities.

In the case of Black photographers who spent years or decades documenting the day-to-day lives of their communities, the photographs they took serve as records that carry more weight than ever — particularly because of a history of racism and neglect from larger, mostly white archival institutions like museums and libraries.

We collected a sampling of just a few of the many Black photographers whose work shaped our understanding of the 20th century and who continue to inspire photographers today.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lewis Alcindor, after breaking a high school record in New York in 1965. Photographed by Don Hogan Charles, the first Black photographer to be hired by the New York Times. Don Hogan Charles

WHAT'S IN A NAME

What it's like being named Rona in the time of "the Rona"

It's been a tough year for people named Rona.

Ever since the coronavirus spread around the world and upended all our lives, people named Rona have had to endure a barrage of microaggressions and jokes related to their names. We talked to some Ronas (Roni? What's the plural of Rona?). They said the pandemic has been a complicated time.

My personal fav. was the person who had to introduce herself to her neighbor as "Rona...like the virus."

Recognize and acknowledge that you've been dealing with hard things,

Elamin

📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

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