U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos ignited controversy when they bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists in the “black power” salute during the Olympic medal ceremony Oct. 16, 1968, in Mexico City. While some viewed them as heroes, in the eyes of some they represented a scourge on America. The men were suspended…

At a time when diversity among broadcast and cable news anchors appears to be on the wane, or barely exists in places like, say, um, Utah, 27-year-old Nadia Crow’s recent move represents a bit of good news. She became the first regular African-American anchor at Utah’s KTVX-Channel 4 and in the state, according to the…

Eighty-six-year-old singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte has moved on to a different battle, following his high-profile intergenerational beef with Jay Z this summer.  Saying that at his age it’s time to get his affairs in order, he filed a lawsuit Tuesday in a New York City federal court against the three surviving children of…

As the federal government shutdown heads into its second week, Senate leaders are poised to take over talks in an effort to reopen offices and avert a potential debt default. President Barack Obama met Saturday at the Oval Office with Democratic Senate leaders, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Dick Durban of Illinois,…

Comedy Central’s The Daily Show host Jon Stewart was left nearly speechless after 16-year-old Nobel Prize-nominee Malala Yousafzai, who survived a brutal attack by the Taliban last year because of her support for education, told him what she would do in the face of another assault. “I would tell him how important education is, and…

(The Root) — Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson received an outpouring of support from celebrities and fans alike on Twitter this weekend after the death of his 2-year-old son. The child reportedly was hospitalized in South Dakota after he was attacked by his mother’s boyfriend, Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, who was arrested and…

A Red Lobster waitress who was suspended after posting an online image of a receipt containing a racial slur instead of a tip has received $10,000, after a fundraising effort by outraged supporters.  Toni Christina Jenkins, of Franklin, Tenn., was suspended after posting an image of the receipt on her Facebook page Sept. 10. The…

(The Root) — To much fanfare, Jason Collins told the world last spring that he was gay by writing a cover story for Sports Illustrated. The first NBA player to come out, he won widespread praise and apparent support for helping to knock down barriers in the world of professional sports. At the time the…

(The Root) — Just days before New Jersey voters are slated to head to the polls in a special election to select a new senator, Democratic front-runner Cory Booker canceled campaign appearances late Thursday to mourn the death of his father. Cary A. Booker passed away Thursday after a recent stroke, according to a news…

Jeff Stratton started out working behind a McDonald’s counter in Detroit nearly 40 years ago. Now he’s president of McDonald’s U.S.A. Not bad. With such roots, it would seem that he would have strong relationships with workers, from those in corporate suites to the line cooks. Perhaps he does, but that certainly did not appear…