culture
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Violence Is Never the Answer … for Black People
There is one universal subject that cannot be ignored when explaining history, dissecting the status of marginalized people around the world, or pursuing any understanding of society, culture or politics. It is an unavoidable component that must be factored into any academic or intellectual examination of civilization, social order or government. That subject is violence.…
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Watch: Our World in Malcolm X’s Words
Very seldom does one encounter a leader as valiant, sharp and fearless as Malcolm X (aka el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz), born May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Neb., as Malcolm Little. He and his family were terrorized by white supremacists (who would eventually kill his father). During time in jail, Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and…
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Scandal Season-Finale Recap: No Woman Should Have All That Power
The two-part Scandal season finale finally answered the question, who was behind Frankie Vargas’ assassination and plotting to assassinate Mellie? At the end of last week’s episode, Jake Ballard identified Olivia Pope’s mother, Maya Pope, as the mastermind who was pulling Peus and Sarah’s strings. This week, Jake arrests and interrogates her, and Maya appears…
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Tracing Your Roots: Deciphering Illegible Genealogy Records
Use these pro tips for handling poorly reproduced images from microfilm or microfiche. Dear Professor Gates: You answered a question I had about one of my ancestors in the 2016 column “Was My Southern Ancestor Adopted?” I have since been able to get ahold of the medical records of Mary Ryman from Bryce Hospital. However,…
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For Those Considering Blaxit, I Present to You: Berlin
Last year I went on a tour of Western Europe in search of a city that I could potentially call home. I went to London, Amsterdam … and I would have kept going, through the overpriced splendor of Scandinavia, or the lush, economically disenfranchised ruins of Athens, but Berlin stopped me in my tracks. It’s…
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An Elegy for Evil
Seventy-seven years ago, in the wee hours of the morning, the universal force that connects us all looked upon the earth and noticed that the group we would later call “the Greatest Generation” had a startling lack of vile, evil liars, so that all-powerful higher power descended an escalator to the gates of hell and…
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I’ve Seen Betty Shelby, the Killer Cop Who Was Found Not Guilty of Killing an Unarmed Black Man
I live in Oklahoma. I teach at a university less than an hour from Tulsa. Much of the trial happened during my finals week, so I made the trip to Tulsa so I could see Betty Shelby in person. I was able to get into the courthouse because I work in ministry in Oklahoma City,…
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The Root 100: Time to Nominate Your Picks for Our Annual List of the Most Influential African Americans
Every year The Root pays tribute to black innovators, leaders and world changers with The Root 100, our annual list of the most influential African Americans, ages 25 to 45. And now it’s time for you, the public, to help shape this list by nominating the people you think represent the best and brightest in…