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10 Blackest Things About Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s ‘All the Stars’ Video From the Black Panther Soundtrack
1. The video is directed by Dave Meyers. And the little homies. We’re starting off strong. Real strong. 2. This actual video literally starts out with the throwing of the hands in the air and waving them like you just don’t care. Except all of those hands are a sea of blackness while Kendrick glides…
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I Once Taught a College-Level Statistics Class Using Nothing but Drug References; It Was the Most Effective, Questionable Thing I’ve Done (at Least That Day)
I used to work in a summer program at a prominent university in the Washington, D.C.-area intended to get black students into the field of public policy and foreign affairs. For something like seven straight summers, I was either a resident assistant (first two years) or a teacher’s assistant (economics, statistics, policy analysis; all seven…
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How Do You Listen to Hip-Hop?
On Feb. 2, 2018, Brooklyn, N.Y., wordsmith Skyzoo released an album called In Celebration of Us. I don’t know exactly how I decided to listen to it—I can’t call myself a Skyzoo fan—but since I did, it’s been in heavy rotation. Skyzoo, as any hip-hop head will tell you, is a noted lyricist in the…
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This Is Us Finally Showed Us What Happened to Jack and the Episode Almost Took Me Out
SPOILER ALERT. ALL THE SPOILER ALERTS. If you’ve been watching This Is Us over the past two seasons, you know what the important question has always been: How exactly did Jack Pearson—world’s greatest father and most-of-the-time great husband—die? We found out early in season 2 that his death happened because of a house fire and…
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I Successfully Didn’t Watch the 2018 Super Bowl. Here’s What That Struggle Looked Like
Because I decided long ago not to watch the NFL this season, not watching the Super Bowl was an easy, if annoying, decision. I love the Super Bowl. I love how we pretend that it truly matters in the grand scheme of things. I love the commercials and the halftime shows and all that jazz.…
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If You Use a Housecleaning Service, Do You Tidy Up Before They Come?
A few days ago, as I perused my Facebook timeline, I came across a discussion started by a friend of mine from here in Washington, D.C., where he was saying that you should stop cleaning, or tidying up, your home before your cleaning people show up, since they already know how filthy you are and…
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6 Ways to Enjoy Super Bowl Sunday Without Watching the Super Bowl
Like apple pie and violence, the Super Bowl and Super Bowl watch parties are an American tradition. This year, though, many of us have given the proverbial middle finger to the league (and need prayer), which means that this Sunday, Super Bowl Sunday, is going to be interesting. While I’ve not had or gone to…
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I Have a Problem: I Keep Ending Up at Target
Hi, my name is Panama Jackson, and I’m addicted to Target. I don’t know how it happened. Look—walking into Target to buy some Mucinex and walking out with a blender, some new bedsheets, a hammer and a new backpack isn’t unique. Nearly everybody who walks into Target leaves $100 lighter than expected. At this point,…
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#GuestsDontPay Would Make Life Easier, but Nobody Would Celebrate Anything Ever Again (Unless They Were Rich)
The Washington Post recently published an article from writer Michelle Singletary titled, “Stop Charging Me to Attend Your Celebrations—#GuestsDontPay.” What’s the beef? Here’s the beef. From the article: I don’t mean any harm, but I am not paying to attend your parties anymore. I want to commemorate your life moments—your birthday, engagement, bridal shower, baby shower,…
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Who Got da Props? Who Got da Props? Cardi B, Runnin’ Things From the Bronx
If you’re a hip-hop head, reading that headline might have made your head explode. You probably recognize that combination of words and syllables from Black Moon’s 1993 song “Who Got da Props?” off of their Enta da Stage album. But they asked a very important question, and the answer to that question is undoubtedly Belcalis…
