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A Cheat Sheet for Researching African-American Ancestors
Over the past few years that we’ve been writing this column, we’ve encountered numerous people who have reached the “brick wall” of emancipation when researching their African-American ancestors. They are stymied by the fact that before the end of the Civil War, enslaved African Americans were rarely recorded by name in documents of any kind,…
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Silence Is Deadly: Mental Health and the Black Community
My father was a quiet man, but not because he didn’t have stories to tell. Robert McCray was born in Springfield, Mass., in 1924. He never knew his father. His formal education ended after the 12th grade, but he earned advanced degrees in what he called “the school of hard knocks.” After serving his country in World War II, he returned to…
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My Child’s Father Wants to Know ‘Who’s the Daddy’—but He’s the One Who’s Been Cheating
I’ve been in a relationship for three years. We moved in together after I got pregnant, and our son is now 2 months old. I’ve never been unfaithful. He cheated early on. He said he wants a paternity test. I’m positive that our son is his, and I’m offended that he would question if he…
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Isiah Thomas Accuser Slams Him on Sexual Harassment Case
Anucha Browne, the former New York Knicks executive who filed a sexual harassment suit against the Knicks’ then-coach, Isiah Thomas, in 2007, is responding to statements made by Thomas and Madison Square Garden, the team’s home stadium, discrediting her allegations now that Thomas has been named president of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, the New…
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Watch: Fla. Cop Suspended 1 Month for Punching Handcuffed Woman
Philippe Archer, a Miami Beach police detective, was reprimanded for punching and kicking a female model nearly two years ago while she was handcuffed and in custody, the Daily Mail reports. Archer has also been suspended for one month (without pay)—he’ll serve the suspension over days spread out in May, June and July, the Daily…
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Michael Brown’s Friend Suing Officer Who Shot Brown for $25,000
Dorian Johnson, the only person who was with unarmed teen Michael Brown when he was fatally shot by then-Police Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Mo., was arrested Wednesday on drug-related charges and suspicion of resisting arrest—not long after he filed a lawsuit against Wilson, the New York Daily News reports. In the lawsuit, Johnson claims…
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4 US Ferry Lines Reportedly Receive Permission From Obama to Conduct Trips to Cuba
All aboard to Cuba! Making good on President Barack Obama’s promise to thaw the icy relations between the U.S. and Cuba, his administration gave the green light to four ferry operators Tuesday to begin making round-trips to Cuba, the Associated Press reports. Baja Ferries—a U.S. passenger line that operates in Mexico—said that it received a…
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Bessie Review: A Brilliantly Told Tale About the Empress of the Blues
HBO’s Bessie is a gem. In a film that was 22 years in the making, Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens delivers a powerhouse performance as Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues (1894-1937). Writer-director Dee Rees (Pariah) continues her game-changing trajectory of making films that are beautifully human and complicated—films that tell stories about the complexity…
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Bad Credit? Hope Is Not Lost
While the foreclosure crisis continues to fade from the headlines, many families are still dealing with the lingering effects. The foreclosure crisis set off a tidal wave, contributing to the recession of 2008. This caused the unemployment rate to skyrocket and left families struggling to make ends meet. Because of the financial hardships stemming from…
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Obama: Racism Plays a Role in Distrust Between Blacks and Police
President Barack Obama went on the Late Show With David Letterman Monday to bid farewell to the host, who is nearing his final days on the air. The president weighed in on the protests in Baltimore in response to the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. He said that racism does, in fact,…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
