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Can Andre 3000 as Jimi Hendrix Save Biopic Genre?
Whispers about Andre 3000 playing Jimi Hendrix in a movie have been buzzing for a while now, but a New York Times article about the complicated history and re-emergence of the biopic genre brings the rapper’s star turn as the legendary guitar genius front and center. Andre — billed as André Benjamin — plays the…
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Tulsa School Changes Policy on Black Hairstyles
Last week the story of 7-year-old Tiana Parker sparked a national outrage. Tiana was sent home from Deborah Brown Community School because her dreadlocks didn’t fit the dress code, which stated that “hairstyles such as dreadlocks, afros, mohawks, and other faddish styles are unacceptable.” The negative publicity — including a petition that received more than…
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Only 28 Percent of Americans Approve of Obama on Syria
When he addresses the nation on Tuesday evening, President Obama will have to prove to a wary public that when it comes to Syria, he knows what he’s doing. According to MSNBC, in a poll created by NBC News-The Wall Street Journal, many Americans are not convinced the commander-in-chief is competently addressing the crisis in…
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Eazy-E and Ol' Dirty Bastard Holograms at Rock the Bells
On Days 1 and 2 of the Rock the Bells hip-hop festival, which took place this past weekend in San Bernadino, Calif., two surprise performers stole the show from all the other artists, and they did so without appearing in the flesh. Similar to last year’s Tupac hologram performance at Coachella alongside Dr. Dre and…
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The Search for New NAACP President Begins
Since Benjamin Todd Jealous announced this past week that he will be stepping down as president and CEO of the NAACP at the end of this year, the organization has moved swiftly to find his replacement. Representatives from various NAACP chapters and former leaders of the organization seek to make the transition as seamless as…
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3 Black Directors Make '20 to Watch' List
Have you seen Pariah? The 2011 coming-of-age film about a young lesbian was a Sundance darling. What about An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, a film that blended real-life actors with animation to tell the story of a man grief-stricken over a breakup? Or maybe you saw Medicine for Melancholy, a romantic indie film about two…
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2 Suspects Arrested in Shooting Death of Black Baby
This past Friday, police arrested the two men who they suspect are responsible for the killing of 1-year-old Antiq Hennis of Brooklyn, N.Y., according to the Daily News. Although they received no help from Antiq Hennis’ father, Anthony Hennis, who was the original target and believed to have key information, police were able to track…
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Interracial Couple Fights for Right to Stay in Town
In a town as small as Leith, N.D. (population: 16), Bobby and Sherrill Harper stick out like sore thumbs, Bobby especially. They are the town’s only interracial couple, and Bobby is the only black man. But according to CNN, one Leith resident, Paul Craig Cobb, thinks Bobby is one black person too many. Paul Craig…
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Serena Williams Wins 5th US Open
In order for No. 1-seeded Serena Williams to take home her fifth U.S. Open title, she had to beat No. 2-seeded Victoria Azarenka and, it seemed, another opponent. As ESPN reports, Azarenka wasn’t giving Williams problems as much the weather at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens. After one miss, Williams declared, “I can’t…
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Black Woman to Be 1st Non-Irish Host of Boston St. Patrick's Day Breakfast
When Linda Dorcena Forry won her bid for state senator of the First Suffolk District in Boston in May, her victory signified change to come. Not only is she black, but she is the first woman to hold the seat. Those two factors alone showed outsiders that Boston, long associated with racism toward blacks and…
