Thomas Chatterton Williams
ARTICLES:
Obama: Gifted, Black and Boxed In
Randall Kennedy's book is the best examination yet of Obama's racial dilemma, says this reviewer.
Juan Williams Makes It Too Simple
Fears of "others" may be real, but we must also navigate the complexities of our multiracial society.
Passing for Black?
A new study posits that black-white biracial adults are increasingly choosing, like President Obama, to emphasize their blackness. But in this country, "black" has always been a mongrel affair.
The Inherent Conservatism of Hip-Hop
When he criticizes the genre, the author is accused of catering to the right. But, he argues, most rappers are so conservative, they could easily belong to the Republican Party.
Remembering Pappy
My father spent a lifetime listening for the sound of me falling. He always caught me. Always.
Is Drake the Bill Clinton of Rap?
His debut album, Thank Me Later, reflects the blandness of the hip-hop moment.
What Obama and Drake Have to Do With Being Black
We're supposedly living in a post-racial society, but these days, "black" is being defined much more narrowly -- and it has nothing to do with one's actual racial heritage. To sell out or keep it real? That is the question.