Sole Survivor Explains How He’s Alive After Air India Crash
The Very Short List of Black Celebs Speaking Out Against Trump’s ICE Raids
White George Floyd Advocate and Husband ‘Target of Political Assasination’ but It Gets Worse
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Polanski Doing Hard Time in Swiss Jail
Roman Polanski will remain in a Swiss jail until at least Monday. After that, so long as he meets his bail requirements, he’ll be doing hard time at his luxury chalet like every other fugitive awaiting justice. From The Associated Press: “Polanski wouldn’t be placed under house arrest in Switzerland before Monday, because he has…
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Former Track Star Did All Manner of Illegal Things
The desire to be great often drives people to do less-than-smart things. Such is the case of Tim Montgomery, disgraced track star who was once the “world’s fastest man” but is currently doing time hard time in Alabama for check fraud and drug dealing. From The Associated Press: “The former 100-meter world-record holder, who also…
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BOMB THE ROOT: The James 'Son' Thomas Interview
BOMB Magazine is a Brooklyn based arts publication. Since 1981 the magazine has been bringing artist’s perspectives to the public. Unlike traditional arts criticism, BOMB asks artists to interview each other, and the resulting conversation is published. Though the transcripts are edited, the artists participate in every step to ensure that the final piece is…
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The Strange Love Affair Between America and the Afrobeat Superstar
It’s been a long, slow dance between the United States and Fela Anikulapo Kuti, one that started 40 years ago when the Nigerian musician first toured America and is finally picking up tempo today, with the Broadway show Fela! opening to raves this week and a movie biopic reportedly in the works. That the Afrobeat…
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BOMB THE ROOT
Kara Walker Above: detail from Look Away! Look Away! Look Away!, 1995 Below: installation of Look Away! Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College 10 x 60′ in. From BOMB, Spring 1996, Issue 55, page 46. Used with permission. All rights reserved. © Bomb Magazine, New Art Publications, and its Contributors. Kara Walker Above: detail from…
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Conversation for the Dinner Table
Whether you want to sound smart, divert a family beef, or stimulate interesting conversation, here’s some lit-related news to share at the dinner table. Did You Hear That We Spent Billions on a Reading Program That Didn’t Work? President Bush spent $1 billion annually for several years on “Reading First,” a literacy program for low-income…
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Reality TV Crashes in on President and Mrs. Obama’s First State Dinner
The U.S. Secret Service apologized Friday for letting reality TV wannabes Michaele and Tareq Salahi into the White House uninvited. With the help of facebook, the couple set a new low in social climbing; Michaele might not even really be a former Redskins cheerleader. Like Balloon Boy, the Salahis reportedly aimed for a reality TV gig…
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Young, Black, and Out of Work
The Washington Post released a hard-hitting report on the state of the young black worker. In short, if you’re between the ages of 16-24 you are screwed. Actually, as someone who only recently turned 25, let me add that you’re not much bigger off in that demographic either. For black men the state of the…
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My Gay Thanksgiving
A few months ago over dinner with my mother, I leaned across the table and asked, “Do you wish I was straight?” During a pause that seemed at least nine months pregnant, I felt myself dancing with the demon I thought had left my party long ago. Over the past 20 years, my mother has…
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DC Mystery: Where is Pam Butler?
Pam Butler and her boyfriend, Jose Rodriguez-Cruz, were supposed to treat her mother to a Valentine’s Day meal. Butler never showed. From The Washington Post: “Romance is for younger folks, Thelma Butler said. Until she noticed a cluster of heart-shaped red balloons on sale at a grocery store one morning, it hadn’t occurred to her…