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The Psychic Toll Of Existing While Black
I’ve never been more conscious of the tenuousness of life and finality of death than I have been since I first considered marrying my now-wife. Bringing someone into my life — a person whose safety and well-being I volunteered to be personally accountable for — just changed things. It changed how I assess the present and conceptualize the…
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10 Ways To Prevent Getting Profiled By The Police If Driving While Black
For the past few months, comedian Chris Rock has been documenting his run-ins with the police by taking a selfie each time he’s profiled and sharing it on social media. Isaiah Washington, an actor best known for his role as Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden in the Joe Torre biopic, Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way, tweeted that…
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Five Reasons Why Tidal Is NOT The Illuminati
Yesterday, a Jay Z-lead cohort of the people invited to Beyonce’s last spades party had some sort of press conference to announce they were taking their collective talents to Tidal, some sort of streaming service. Naturally, considering the people involved, what they’re attempting to do, and the fact that Alicia Keys was asked to speak,…
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For The Love Of God, Stop What You're Doing And Caption This Pic
This is Levi Pettit. He is one of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon members caught chanting about niggers and lynching and acronyms. This was taken during a press conference where he apologized for his actions. Behind him are a group of Black people who, judging by their faces, totally were asked to appear with Pettit, replied “Are…
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Dear Black People: Can Someone Please Tell Me What The "Gay Agenda" Is?
The first season of Empire concluded Wednesday night. Which means I went the entire season of Empire without watching one minute of Empire. There’s really no specific reason why. I’m not boycotting Wet Wipes Howard and it’s not like my Wednesdays are so busy that I couldn’t watch if I wanted to. It just belongs to…
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Eight Signs You're "Just Black" Even Though You Believe You're "New Black"
New Black fever has continued to spread. It started last year with Pharrell’s interview with Oprah where he spoke of a new Blackness that doesn’t transcend race and culture as much as it attempts to make it obsolete. Since then, several celebrities — including Raven Symone, Kanye West, and (most recently) Common — have spoken about how…
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No News Story Has Ever Made Me Happier Than The News About Leah Still
Last night, while watching TV with The Wife Person and scrolling through Facebook on my phone, I came across a story about Leah Still, the four-year-old daughter of Cincinnati Bengal Devon Still. If you recall, Leah’s battle with pediatric cancer made national headlines last year, in large part due to her father’s pre-surgery “pep talk”…
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How It Feels To Get Your Ass Kicked In Spades
There are many benefits to living in Pittsburgh. There are literally thousands of places to get great breakfast food, the topography is completely unique and completely spectacular, and it’s surprisingly close to Toronto. Unfortunately, a robust nightlife for Black people is not one of them. If you’re a 30-something Black person in this city and…
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Um…Shouldn't Power Get A Royalty Check From Empire Now Too?
The “Blurred Lines” verdict likely won’t signal the end of the music industry. Although I agree that it set a bad precedent, I doubt it’s going to lead to a world where the only music not in danger of facing a copyright suit is made in the shower. But, if we are going to go there —…
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Five Types Of Post-Racial Racists You Will Definitely Meet
The most telling part of the SAE fraternity chant caught on camera — well, the most telling part aside from the tuxes and gowns, because nothing says “it’s time to do some racist-ass shit” like Tuxedo Junction Groupons — is the fact that this song was perfect. The words, cadence, and rhythm were a perfect fit…
