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The Weight of Words: New Course Tackles Writers’ Impact on Black History
Literature—regardless of how it is delivered, whether in song, sermon, novel, short story, poem or essay—has the unique ability to inform, to uplift, and to shape our opinions and worldviews. At least that’s how James Basker, the Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College at Columbia University, sees it. It’s a crucial point and…
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The Game, Diddy, DJ Khaled, TGT and More Collaborate on Michael Brown Tribute ‘Don’t Shoot’
Michael Brown’s death appears to be sparking an entire cultural movement, particularly among black musicians. A group of powerful artists—including the Game, Diddy, Rick Ross, 2 Chains, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beats, Yo Gotti, Curren$y, Problem, King Pharaoh and TGT—have collaborated on the just-released single “Don’t Shoot” in honor of the Ferguson, Mo., teen…
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Attorney: Video Shows John Crawford III Being Shot ‘on Sight’ in Wal-Mart Toy-Gun Case
John Crawford III did not even have the BB gun pointed in the air. In fact, he wasn’t even facing the officers who shot him. At least, that’s what his family’s attorney has said after being allowed to review surveillance video from the fateful Aug. 5 incident at an Ohio Wal-Mart, the Raw Story reports.…
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Michael Brown’s Funeral Draws Thousands of Mourners
As Michael Brown’s life was celebrated Monday during a packed ceremony at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, the audience and speakers never lost sight of the reason they were there: justice. The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered an emotional eulogy, bringing out cheers and applause from the crowd who came to lay…
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Death of Handcuffed Louisiana Man Shot in Chest Ruled a Suicide
A Louisiana man who state police claimed shot and killed himself in March while in police custody died, not of a gunshot wound to the back, as police had initially reported, but of a shot to the chest, according to an autopsy report, KATC reports. The shooting occurred in the backseat of a patrol car…
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Obama: Attorney General Eric Holder Will Be in Ferguson on Wednesday
President Barack Obama, back from vacation at Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, once again stood before the nation to address the racial tensions in Ferguson, Mo., as well as the tensions between law enforcement and the black community, saying that he has spoken with state officials and plans to dig deeper into the circumstances of unarmed…
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4 Dead Unarmed Men and the Police: What You Need to Know
Eric Garner. John Crawford III. Michael Brown. Ezell Ford. You should recognize these names. They all belong to unarmed black men who were killed by law enforcement since July 2014 for seemingly inexplicable reasons: allegedly selling loose cigarettes, allegedly holding a toy gun in the toy section of Wal-Mart, allegedly running away after a scuffle…
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24 Hours in Ferguson
Something has snapped in Ferguson, Mo. Maybe not so much snapped as erupted. The racial tension that reached its tipping point at the killing of unarmed teen Michael Brown has dissolved police-community relationships seemingly beyond restoration, at least for now. Protesters came out in full force Wednesday night, continuing their calls for justice for the…
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Friend Who Witnessed Michael Brown Shooting Speaks
The last words Dorian Johnson heard from his friend were, “Keep running, bro!” The 22-year-old, who was walking with Michael Brown before Brown was fatally shot, revealed to MSNBC in an exclusive interview exactly what he saw during the inexplicable shooting by police Saturday in Ferguson, Mo. Johnson told MSNBC that he saw the gun and…
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Okla. Cop Charged in Her Daughter’s Boyfriend’s Death Released From Jail
One of the Tulsa, Okla., cops charged in the slaying of their daughter’s black boyfriend was released Thursday night from the county jail, NBC News reports. Gina Kepler, 48, was granted a $25,000 bail on her charge of being an accessory to murder and was released, although she has to report to court on Tuesday,…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
