black people
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Respectability Politics Are No Solution; They Are A Surrender
At times like these, when the uncomfortable behavior of (mostly) Black people is broadcast to a (mostly) White audience and becomes a national discussion point, a particular type of Black person tends to emerge. Actually, “emerge” might not even be the best word, because it implies that this person rose from somewhere, when in reality…
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How "Coon" Became The New "Female"
“while the word female is appropriate under certain contexts, beware of the cat who uses it as his universal descriptor of all women. honestly, although i have a few theories (my favorite one has something to do with sting and the police), i have absolutely no idea why this is such a strong indicator of…
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The Limitlessness Of Blackness
If you were on the back of a school bus leaving East Hills Elementary School in 1990, or perhaps sitting in homeroom at Penn Hills High School in 1997, waiting for the 1st period bell to ring, you might have overheard or been a part of a ripping session. And, if you overheard or were a part…
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Vote Republican? Nah…I'm Good (Sorry, Stephen A)
Stephen A. Smith, the popular talk show host on ESPN, recently stated that Black people should vote for the GOP so that both the Republican and Democratic parties will work harder to obtain our votes. Stephen A. Smith is wrong. Black Republicans have attempted this since the 1930s and have an abysmal record. Prof. Leah…
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How It Feels To Get Your Ass Kicked In Spades
There are many benefits to living in Pittsburgh. There are literally thousands of places to get great breakfast food, the topography is completely unique and completely spectacular, and it’s surprisingly close to Toronto. Unfortunately, a robust nightlife for Black people is not one of them. If you’re a 30-something Black person in this city and…
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In Defense Of Too Many Of The "Wrong" Type Of Black People On TV
At the moment, Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl — a memoir with a buzz largely fueled by the popularity of her similarly themed webseries — is currently sitting on the New York Times’ bestseller list. Last week, Rae appeared on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, a show selected to replace The Colbert…
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Why It Matters That The New York Times Refused To Refer To "White People" When Reporting On Lynchings In America
As horrified as I’ve always been by the fact that thousands of Black Americans were lynched — unjustly murdered by mobs for crimes they did or didn’t commit — I recently learned that I haven’t quite been horrified enough. Very aware of much of the chilling history associated with that act of America terrorism —…
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Kendrick Lamar, And The Beauty Of Black Rage
Yesterday, Kendrick Lamar dropped “The Blacker The Berry” — one of the most beautifully angry rap songs we’ve ever heard. He’s furious, and it’s fantastic, and we needed to talk about it. 1. This song is an exercise in compelling writing. Not just song writing. Writing period. I wanted to READ the lyrics while listening…