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Spelman Changes Admissions Policy, Will Admit Transgender Students in Fall 2018
As noted writer and transgender advocate Raquel Willis once declared, trans women are women. And so it follows that black trans women should be able to attend one of the world’s premier HBCUs created just for black women. Turns out now they can. Spelman College has stepped up, and President Mary Schmidt Campbell announced that…
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US Appeals Court Says Racist Texas Voter-ID Laws Can Stand
In the latest win for white supremacy, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas can move forward in its bid to implement a “draconian” voter-identification law, at least temporarily. Reuters reports that on Tuesday evening, a three-member panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans voted 2-1 to put on hold…
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Charlotte, NC, Mayoral Candidate Reminds Voters That She’s ‘Smart’ and ‘White’
A Charlotte, N.C., mayoral candidate is coming under fire for listing the obvious fact that she’s white as one of her qualifications for the job. “Vote for me!” Kimberley Paige Barnette posted on her Facebook bio. “REPUBLICAN & SMART, WHITE, TRADITIONAL.” She might want to scrap the “smart” part. WBTV reports that Barnette is a…
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Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Reps for Her ‘Brown Sisters’ With 40 Foundation Shades
Pop goddess Rihanna recently announced the debut of Fenty Beauty, which is happening Sept. 8. Now she’s also confirmed that there will be no fewer than 40 colors of foundation … because black girls be tired of mixing to get the perfect shade. Hello Giggles reports that a Rihanna fan account messaged the singer and…
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3 Black Women Advance to US Open Semifinals
For the first time in U.S. Open history, three black women have advanced to the quarterfinal round—and in this case, they all happen to be American. As of Monday, Venus Williams, 37; Sloane Stephens, 24; and Madison Keys, 22, are all vying for the Tiffany-engraved trophy. Oh, and it’s all going down at a stadium…
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The Root 100 No. 1s: Shonda Rhimes Changes the Face of Television Forever
The pop-cultural impact of Shonda Rhimes cannot be overstated, although at this point, it’s hard to imagine TV without her forceful, casually diverse, complicated and occasionally ruthless characters who fall outside of what was heretofore the “norm” (read: white, heterosexual male protagonists and their stories). In fact, one could argue that the writer, producer and…
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Black Excellence: 13-Year-Old Kimora Hudson Begins Classes at University of West Ga.
Skipping a grade or even two is one thing, but zooming over lots of them is a whole ’nother level. Which is exactly where Kimora Hudson is at in life—at 13 years old, she’s the youngest student enrolled at the University of West Georgia this fall. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Kimora will be at…
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Beyoncé Loves Cardi B Just Like the Rest of Us!
One of the most endearing things about Beyoncé is that despite her carefully crafted image, she still manages to impart the illusion that she’s just like the rest of us, a regular “Texas bama” slanging hot sauce, decrying police brutality and making Lemonade when life becomes too bitter. So it was no surprise that at…
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The Small Man in the White House Moves to End DACA
Several news reports indicate that Donald Trump and his senior advisers met Sunday afternoon to discuss dismantling a federal program that allows undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as children to legally work, destroying yet another one of former President Barack Obama’s signature actions, and dabbing to Trump’s racist base. Ending the Deferred Action…
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Cleveland Police Union Refuses to Hold Flag During Browns Opening Game, Calls Players’ Protest ‘Ignorant’
More police-union fuckery. Cleveland’s police union says it will not hold the American flag during a ceremony before the Cleveland Browns’ first game because some players knelt during the national anthem during the preseason. Cleveland.com reports that Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Steve Loomis made the announcement regarding the game, which is set for Sept.…
