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'Trayvon, Redux,' by Rita Dove
Rita Dove, former poet laureate of the United States, penned a poem inspired by George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the shooting death of unarmed African-American teen Trayvon Martin. Trayvon, Redux It is difficult/to get the news from poems /yet men die miserably every day/for lack/of what is found there./Hear me out/for I too am concerned/and every man/who…
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NAACP to Justice Department: Charge Zimmerman
(The Root) — The NAACP is asking supporters to sign a petition urging the Department of Justice to open a civil rights case against George Zimmerman. The call to action is in a letter signed by President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, distributed in the first hours after a jury announced its acquittal of the…
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Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense of Marriage Act
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that it is unconstitutional to prohibit the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. As it stood, the law denied same-sex married couples federal benefits, such as Social Security and the ability to file joint tax returns. “DOMA…
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Reports: Rapper Lil Snupe Dead
Multiple sources are reporting that 18-year-old rapper Lil Snupe of Meek Mill’s Dream Chasers Records has died after being shot earlier this week. A writer for AllHipHop.com wrote this morning, “Now, I am hearing that he has been found dead. I don’t have a lot of details, but I heard he was shot by some…
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Medgar Evers' Life and Legacy: 10 Facts
(The Root) — On June 12, 1963, Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the White Citizens’ Council, shot 37-year-old NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers in the back outside his Jackson, Miss., home, killing him — and making a legend out of a man who was already a courageous soldier in the fight for civil…
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2013 Tony Awards in Pictures
Patina Miller, winner of the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Pippin; Cicely Tyson, winner of the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for The Trip to Bountiful; and Billy Porter, winner of the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a…
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No One Does Victory Like Serena Williams
June 9, 2013: Serena Williams celebrates as she wins the French Open final against Russia’s Maria Sharapova at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Sept. 9, 2012: Williams lifts the championship trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to win the women’s-singles final match on day 14 of the U.S. Open at the USTA National…
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The Root 100: Nominate Black Leaders Now
(The Root) — It’s about that time again! Who are the trailblazers, tastemakers and innovators in your industry, field of study or community who are paving the way toward positive impact? We want to hear from you! The Root is accepting nominations for The Root 100 of 2013. The Root 100 applauds the best young…
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I Went to an HBCU to Experience Being a Minority
Writing at The Root DC, Alyssa Paddock explains why, despite being white, she chose to attend a historically black college. There’s the obvious: She got a lacrosse scholarship. And then there’s another reason: The self-imposed challenge of being a racial minority for the first time. Plus, Paddock says, her view of race as a nonissue…
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Guess Who Sang It
The Song: “Proud Mary” (1970) Fun Fact: Part of the infamously tragic couple’s Workin’ Together album, the song, though one of Tina Turner’s defining hits, was originally recorded (with a much different arrangement) by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969. The Song: “Billie Jean” (1983) Fun Fact: The video for “Billie Jean” was one of the…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
