Oklahoma Black Man Hit By Patrol Car During Jaywalking Arrest, and That’s Not Even the Most Infuriating Part
Chicago Black Man’s Face is Forever Changed After Being Tased By Police, But That’s Not the Worst Part…
These Black Democrats Were Allegedly Next on the Minnesota Gunman’s Hitlist
Why the Black Internet Believes Grammys Just Threw Shade at Beyoncé
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Playing Hardball With Affirmative Action
If you missed Chris Matthews’ whacked-out tirade against affirmative action last week on his shoutfest Hardball with Chris Matthews, don’t worry. I’m guessing you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hear similar screeds in the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court’s decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, the affirmative action case involving promotions in the New…
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Will Cities Start Using College Students for a Bailout?
Providence, Rhode Island is the home of four private schools — Brown, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University and the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2003 each school agreed to pay the city nearly $50 million over 20 years. Apparently that’s no longer enough. Facing a budget crisis the mayor of Providence wants to…
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The Root's Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Wins Prestigious Public Television Award
Henry Louis Gates, Jr,. editor of THE ROOT, has been awarded the 2009 Ralph Lowell Award, public television’s most prestigious honor. Announced today by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lowell Award is intended to celebrate an individual’s outstanding accomplishments and lifelong contributions to the development of public broadcasting. Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of…
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Foreclosure Plan Shines, Unless You Look too Close
The White House is today touting progress on its foreclosure prevention plan. The administration says mortgage servicing firms—the largest of which are owned by the big banks—have offered approximately 55,000 “trial modifications” to struggling borrowers since early March, and have sent letters urging another 300,000 borrowers to apply. These are good numbers, relative to the…
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Silly Boys, Naked Girls and TMZ Leaks
Clearly, it’s part of the job description, this celebrity compulsion to live life large, and largely in front of the camera. Even if that camera is attached to an iPhone. Blame it on the Madonna-ian philosophy (pre-Guy Ritchie, post-Truth or Dare) that members of the glitterati subscribe to: I am filmed, therefore, I am. This…
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Rwandan Rapper Wows 'Idol' Guests With a Worthy Cause
Surprisingly, last night’s American Idol episode consisted of more than just Simon Cowell quips and cheesy segues from Ryan Seacrest. Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen, the three remaining contestants vying for the top spot, stood on-deck as 15-year-old guest performer, Noah Mushimiyimana from Rwanda blew them out of the water. His appearance was a…
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Rashida Jones and the Hollywood Shuffle
Last night I ran over to the East Village to see the comedy I Love You, Man. It stars Paul Rudd and Rashida Jones. The premise is pretty simple: boy proposes to girl, girl accepts, but boy doesn’t have any male friends so he has to scour the streets of Los Angeles for a Best…
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05.14.09 Headlines: Limbaugh Turns Over New Leaf on Race, Looks, Returns to Old Leaf
NO: 9 Dead after Boat Carrying Haitian Immigrants Sinks BET: *Sigh* W. Va. Teen May Get Life for Shooting Pregnant Woman WP: Obama Wants Detainee Abuse Photos Taken Down, at least Not Tagged on Facebook NYT: Boy Scouts Trained to Fight Terror, Patrol Border; Fastest to Make Hitler Youth Quip Wins AA: Lead Diet? Same…
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Job Hunting With Dad
Nearly four years ago to the day, I sat in my childhood bedroom moments before my high school graduation imagining the glories of adult life. I aspired to live independent of my parents’ bank accounts and watchful eyes. My life, as I dreamed it, would be filled with a brightly colored wardrobe and overpriced accessories,…
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Unemployment, the New Bonding Experience
When Amanda Fulwood accepts her well-deserved sheepskin Sunday at the University of Virginia, I’ll be the proudest father on campus. Since the day my daughter was born, I’ve dreamed of this moment, when I could look through teary eyes at her toothy smile and send her off to find a career and make her way…