-
Crazy Talk: Is Woman Who Fell Through Sidewalk Fat Because of Food Stamps?
Last week a 32-year-old, 400-pound, 6-foot-5 African-American social worker fell through a New York City sidewalk, breaking her arm but avoiding serious injury. There were plenty of mean jokes made on Twitter, but Rupert Murdoch chose a unique angle, Gawker reports, using the occasion to make social commentary about health care costs — and giving…
-
Is Recent Attack Ad a New Low for NRA?
(The Root) — I used to think that the National Rifle Association was not only superpowerful but also fairly smart. But since the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., I’ve changed my mind. Hard. After the debacle of a press conference during which NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre babbled on blaming everything besides guns for gun…
-
New Sci-Fi With a Twist: An All-Black Cast
Channing Kennedy of Colorlines spoke to Keith Josef Adkins about his Web series, The Abandon, a tale of five black men who leave the city on a weekend camping trip, only to find out via Twitter that aliens have landed back home. Its pilot episode launched around Christmas, fueled by an $8,000 Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign.…
-
'The Jackson 5ive' Has Arrived on DVD
(The Root) — Children of the ’70s and in the decades that followed certainly remember the music of the immensely popular family singing group known as the Jackson Five: Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and, of course, Michael. The brothers are perhaps lesser known for having their own cartoon series, Jackson 5ive. On Jan. 15, DreamWorks…
-
Education Is the 21st-Century Liberator
(Special to The Root) — Continuing their historical practice of working together to address issues of concern to the African-American community, the NAACP, National Urban League, United Negro College Fund and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund are working cooperatively to improve educational opportunities for all students. This week we will run op-eds by the…
-
Study: When It Comes to Racism, Ignorance Is Bliss
File this under “Obvious stuff that’s now backed up by science.” According to research published last month in Psychological Science, ignorance about the extent of racism in history might explain why some people perceive less racism today than others. In a survey of college students, historical knowledge predicted perception of racism for black and white…
-
NRA Ad Targets Obama Girls
The National Rifle Association has released a new ad that takes the organization’s post-Newtown, Conn., school shooting, anti-gun control message to a level of insensitivity that’s already being widely criticized. Beyond just attacking President Obama’s policy positions, Politico reports, it brings Sasha and Malia into the debate, asking, “Are the president’s kids more important than…
-
New CBC Leader: We're Not Just for Blacks
(The Root) — Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio took the chairperson’s gavel from Rep. Emanuel Cleaver at a recent ceremonial swearing-in for members of the Congressional Black Caucus. With it, she inherited the responsibility to lead the group of African-American elected officials that has long considered itself the “conscience of the Congress” on issues that…
-
Oprah's 16 Juiciest Celebrity Interviews
(The Root) — In 2011 Oprah Winfrey told an audience in Chicago, “I have a dream of O.J. Simpson confessing to me. And I am going to make that happen, people.” We have no reason not to believe her. Winfrey’s couch has long been a site for celebs to reveal big secrets. And while she…
-
The GOP's Destructive Game of Chicken
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson says that congressional Republicans are focused on brinkmanship that is at best pointless and at worst destructive. President Obama is set to begin his second term at a moment when the question is not what great things our nation can achieve but whether our government, in Obama’s words, can “stop…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
