-
Ruby Dee: Advice From a Legend
Legendary actress, activist and writer Ruby Dee passed away Wednesday at the age of 91. Her career spanned nearly seven decades and made a significant impact, especially in black film and theater. And a lifetime chock-full of rich experiences qualified her to deliver advice that we can all live by. 1. On Courage “The greatest…
-
Help Me Trace the 3 Enslaved ‘Wives’ of William Dawkins
How can one find the place where one’s ancestors originated when the names of locations change over time? My family oral history indicates that William Dawkins (1790-1872), who died in Union County, S.C., went from his plantation in Fish Dam, S.C., to a place called Maddox/Mattox in Virginia and brought back four enslaved women. Dawkins,…
-
Actress and Activist Ruby Dee Has Died
Iconic actress Ruby Dee, who passed away on June 11, 2014, at the age of 91, will be remembered for her graceful presence on the stage and before the camera, but she will also be celebrated as a civil rights activist. Born Ruby Ann Wallace on Oct. 27, 1922, in Cleveland, the award-winning star was…
-
The Other Reason Eric Cantor Lost: Chickens Came Home to Roost
The News: Republican lawmakers are jockeying to succeed Rep. Eric Cantor as House majority leader following his embarrassing primary defeat Tuesday, with a vote scheduled for June 19 that could push the GOP further to the ideological right. The apparent leading candidate is Cantor’s longtime lieutenant, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who represents the Republican…
-
17 Men of Color Who’ll Make You Want to Watch the World Cup in High-Def
Whether or not you’re a fan of soccer, there are some key players in the 2014 FIFA World Cup you might want to keep your eyes on. Whether making goals or on the sidelines, these soccer hotties will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get to know them: 1. Glen Johnson, England Place of birth:…
-
Know What, Eric Cantor? You Just Got a Taste of the Obama Treatment
It wasn’t enough for Republican primary voters in Virginia’s 7th District that their congressman, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, helped the GOP regroup after President Barack Obama took office; that Cantor played bad cop to House Speaker John Boehner’s good cop during the 2011 debt-ceiling standoff; or that over his career, Cantor voted with his…
-
Cheryl Miller Reveals How Tough It Was to Find a Coaching Job
Cheryl Miller spent a year and a half trying to get someone to return her phone calls, but no one wanted to take a chance on the Hall of Fame basketball star as their women’s basketball coach. That is until Langston University, a small HBCU in Oklahoma, decided to give her a shot. In a…
-
Is There Anything Wrong With Passing for Black?
I have curly dark hair and am of Indian and Caucasian descent. I have a really diverse group of friends, and because of my hair and my skin tone (a deep tan/brown), I find that people often assume I’m black. I feel awkward correcting them, so I just go with it. Is that wrong? A black…
-
My Son’s 14-Year-Old Killer Deserved a 2nd Chance
My only son, Ronald D. Simpson III, was murdered on Father’s Day 13 years ago. Ronald was 21. His killer was a 14-year-old boy. We were devastated, as any parents would have been. Despite this, my son’s mother and I did not want our son’s killer to spend the rest of his life in prison.…
-
Learning to Live With Internet Haters
Judge me. Last night I watched VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta. When it comes to the image of black people on TV, it gets no worse than most—but not all—of the cast. (Exhibit A: This season’s leading storyline involves an allegedly homemade sex tape that really resembles a slickly produced porno.) Let me plead my…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
