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Broadband Summit: No Escape From Controversy
Over the hum of laptops and the persistent, attention-demanding chirps of a hundred BlackBerrys, the Minority Media & Telecom Council convened its “Broadband and Social Justice Summit” in Washington, D.C., last week, a gathering of industry and government leaders, to discuss how broadband access and adoption can help bridge the digital divide and provide minority…
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A Dance of Race and Social Grace on 'The Real Housewives of D.C.'
“Girlfriend! I saw you.” I had already started to regret my decision to tune in to Bravo’s Real Housewives of D.C. Bouncy and blonde Mary’s neck-swiveling, sassy finger-shaking imitation of her close friend Stacie only wanted to make me change the channel. Stacie Scott Turner, the sole black character on a show that takes place…
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The Myth of 'Acting White' and the Achievement Gap
Even broaching the topic of “acting white” is the prelude to a fight. Those two small words are imbued with so much meaning within the black community. Is it racial policing and self-sabotage that ultimately lead to underachievement? Or is it just a racialized form of bullying? While what activities lead to the charge vary,…
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Is America's 'Race Music' Past Hurting Janelle Monae?
Kitschy, socially conscious singer and songwriter Janelle Monae has all the tools for a successful debut music career—interesting and dynamic production, a melodic singing voice, an interesting look, a new dance—and one of hip-hop’s heavy hitters (Big Boi, of Outkast fame) as her mentor and co-collaborator. So why hasn’t her new single torn up the…
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Closing the Black-White Wealth Gap
Are you living paycheck to paycheck, counting down the days until your next direct deposit? Do you find yourself in the same basic financial state you were in five years ago, with a slightly better salary and slightly nicer stuff? If so, you’re not alone. Recent research confirms that high-earning African-American households lag far behind…
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Memo to Congress: Save TRIO
How do we ensure that motivated students from low-income backgrounds pursue higher education? Since 1964, a major part of the answer to that question has been the existence of the TRIO programs: six programs with a goal of getting economically disadvantaged students into college to help end cycles of poverty. The programs include Upward Bound,…
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Lawrence Taylor's Trial By Media Fire
”Athlete caught soliciting the services of a prostitute” is reported so often, the story is almost a cliché. However, in the case of former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, the typical narrative took a gut-wrenching turn: The New York Times reports that there is a 16-year-old girl involved, who allegedly was forced to sleep…
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Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
How is it possible that one-fourth of black women do not possess bank accounts, and that single black women have a median wealth of $100, as compared to $41,500 for single white women? A new report from the Insight Center for Community Economic Development probes the depths of economic inequality in the United States. In…
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Blacks and Roe v. Wade
Today marks the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal. For the last 37 years, the case has remained in a constant state of controversy, with anti-choice activists using any vehicle available to chip away at the right to choose. The most recent manifestation was seen in…
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Michelle Obama: The New Face of Haiti?
As international aid pours in to provide relief from the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti, development workers and NGO professionals are beginning to fear what will happen once the media spotlight leaves the small island nation. But there is one person who has enough political clout and global recognition to ensure that doesn’t happen: Michelle…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
