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Singer Vanity Dead at 57
Sad news hit the Web Monday night just as the Grammy Awards were about to unfold: Drummer Sheila E. tweeted that her friend Denise Katrina Matthews, 57, better known as the singer Vanity, passed away. Vanity, a protégée of music legend Prince and formerly of the girl group Vanity 6, died from an abdominal illness,…
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Rep. John Lewis Wants to See Bernie Sanders’ Civil Rights Receipts
Rep. John Lewis, civil rights icon, lawmaker and Hillary Clinton supporter, intentionally or unintentionally called out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ civil rights bona fides Thursday. Lewis, who was among several members of the Congressional Black Caucus to endorse Clinton’s presidential bid, was asked whether Sanders’ involvement in the civil rights movement swayed him. It did…
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Beyoncé Drops ‘Formation’ for the People, the Black People
Well, that was black. Cornbread and collard greens black. “Hot sauce in my bag” black. Southern black. Dirty South black. Your grandma telling you to go cut down a switch black. Did you know Beyoncé was black? If you didn’t know, if you thought she was some ethereal, raceless, colorless transformative nymph who could doo-wop pop…
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Hey, PWIs! Diversity Is Great, but Inclusion Is Better
In Lawrence Ross’ new book, Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses, he highlights America’s little mythology problem. “For the past 400 years, African Americans tried to assist white Americans in recording a memory of racism, often to no avail,” Ross writes. “White America clings stubbornly to a collective narrative, what Gore…
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The Real Housewives of Potomac Is a Show That ‘Bravely’ Asks, ‘Who Is Black in America?’
A long time ago, back when everyone I knew personally was black and my world was much smaller, everyone was embarrassingly blunt about their colorism because they were 9 years old and had no filters. I knew the girls who were bullied because they were dark. I knew the girls who were bullied because they…
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Fighting Racism in the Age of Obama
No one said it would be easy. After all, what’s simple about fighting something that’s baked in the cake of American society, that constitutes its original sin? Racism. That’s racism with a big R and a little one. The kind that’s in your face and explicit, and the kind that you can’t grasp with your…
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Exposed: How Keanu Reeves’ Newest Film Got Whitewashed
In a world where people are taking to the streets, saying “Black lives matter”—where TV shows and films like Empire, Selma, Jane the Virgin, Straight Outta Compton, Fresh Off the Boat and Black-ish are getting high ratings and winning awards—one movie studio allegedly said no to all that diversity and instead chose to take us…
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Historic Presidency, Historic Opposition: The Legacy of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama is going to be in the history books. This will happen regardless of his critics or his fans, both of which are legion. It will happen regardless of who wins the White House in November 2016. It will happen whether you love him adoringly, deride him with cynicism or hate him with all…
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Berry Gordy Had and Is Still Having a Wonderful Time
Stories. Berry Gordy has them. Stories of Diana Ross, whom he once romanced, leaving Motown for $20 million. Stories of Stevie Wonder’s mother’s list of demands before she would allow her child to sign with the label, which included a washer and dryer. Stories of Rick James smoking ”Mary Jane” in the studio. And stories…
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Chicago Police Superintendent Out, Fired Amid Laquan McDonald Video Controversy
Someone had to go, and according to the Chicago Sun-Times, the someone is Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who was reportedly fired by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday amid multiple controversies involving the Chicago Police Department. “He has become an issue, rather than dealing with the issue, and a distraction,” Emanuel said, according to the…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
