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Cory Booker Wins Senate Seat
(The Root) — On Wednesday, history was made in New Jersey as Cory Booker won a U.S. Senate seat. The outgoing Newark mayor will be the ninth African-American member of that governing body and, at 44, one of the youngest. This week’s special election, scheduled by Gov. Chris Christie, followed the abrupt death in June…
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House Stenographer Removed During Shutdown Vote
As lawmakers voted on Wednesday to end the 16-day government shutdown, a House of Representatives stenographer approached the dais and began shouting about God and Freemasons, according to Business Insider. She was promptly removed from the floor. “He will not be mocked,” a woman shouts on the recording. “This is not one nation under God.…
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For Black Boys, Dream Education Deferred
(The Root) — Anyone black who’s done time in prep school can appreciate the mixed bag of experiences it can bring: On the one hand, there’s the potential — the promise — of receiving a world-class education, one that makes the transition to the Ivy League practically painless. On the other hand, there’s the potential…
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Is White Mom's Soul Food Meal Offensive?
(The Root) — “I had dinner with my white girlfriend and her mother recently. Her mother cooked, and I was surprised that the meal was all ‘soul food’ — chitlins, greens and sweet potato pie. My girlfriend said her mom likes to cook new things and I should think nothing of it. Didn’t think much of…
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Quote of the Day: Ida B. Wells on Reconstruction
Read the quote in its full context here. Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and founding director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. He is also the editor-in-chief of The Root. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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Dear 'SNL': We Found Funny Black Women!
If you want to see what’s hot on black Twitter, check out The Chatterati.Akoto Ofori-Atta is the editor of The Grapevine. Like her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter.
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How Dumb Are US Voters?
Writing at CNN, L.Z. Granderson argues that Americans’ abysmal level of academic prowess undermines democracy at the voting booth, which has paved the way for a dysfunctional Congress. He bases the observation on findings of a recent survey showing that Americans trail other countries in literacy, math and computer skills. You see, while we were…
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I Didn't Equate Obamacare With Slavery
Ben S. Carson, in a piece at the Washington Times, slams critics who have accused him of comparing Obamacare to slavery. “I stated that Obamacare was the worst thing in our country since slavery,” he writes. Many can remember as youngsters doing something wrong, for which they knew punishment was deserved. In order to avoid…
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Are Politicians From Interracial Families Poised to Lead?
Bill de Blasio is primed to become New York City’s next mayor because the Democratic candidate’s interracial family represents and cultivates social change, Ben Ryder Howe writes at the New York Observer. I had to laugh when I read recently that Bill de Blasio, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, is leading the…
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Could Women Have Prevented Shutdown?
(The Root) — When history looks back on this latest government shutdown, there will likely be a few key culprits who get the blame. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will surely be mentioned, along with the Tea Party and Obamacare. But is it possible that the biggest culprit of all may escape blame? I’m referring to…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
