culture
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Mary J. Blige Didn't Ask Clinton About Hateration; Nor Did She Just Break Out Singing. And Other Reasons You Need to Watch Their Interview
The trailer for it may have been awkward, but once you actually watch Mary J. Blige’s interview with Hillary Clinton on her Apple Music talk show, The 411, in full, you’re likely to find out it’s rather innocuous. The memes surrounding the image of Blige and Clinton in what looked to be an emotional moment…
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What Happened to Marilyn Mosby, the Champion for Justice in Baltimore?
Baltimore resident Freddie Gray died in April 2015 as a result of injuries sustained while being improperly restrained in a police van. Protests over his death turned violent, and in the middle of the unrest, Marilyn Mosby, the Baltimore City state’s attorney, stood on the stairs of the War Memorial in downtown Maryland to announce…
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Unique Views, Episode 12: Hillary Clinton, aka Supa Predatah, and Pusha T, BFFs!
Danielle Young, aka Patti LaDanielle, aka one-half of the world’s most dangerous podcast, has the energy of a possum on sleeping pills. Like, seriously. She claims that it’s the weather, but when you’re as hot as ice, as this podcast is, then you don’t have time for lethargy. Nevertheless, I find a way to bring…
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Luke Cage: A Bulletproof Black Man in the Black Lives Matter Era
To deal with my anger over the seemingly unending number of black men and women killed at the hands of those tasked with the duty to serve and protect, I often play N.W.A’s “F—k tha Police” to cope—except I don’t play it loud. I’m afraid the boys in blue (not the Crips; I’m cool with…
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Nate Parker Is Ready to Move On From His Past and Wants the Focus on Nat Turner
The Birth of a Nation is set for release Oct. 7, and despite its impressive, history-making reputation, it’s the film’s director and lead actor Nate Parker’s past rape allegations that have dominated the most recent headlines rather than the very important story of preacher-turned-freedom fighter Nat Turner. “This is a film about freedom … resistance,” Parker exclusively…
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The Black Maternal Mortality Rate in the US Is an International Crisis
Last week I spoke at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to urge the United States to use a human rights framework to improve maternal mortality in the U.S. That’s right: Black women are dying around the world, and black women in the U.S. need to be placed in the…
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Empire Recap: We Get WOKE With Taye Diggs
Empire’s season 3 debut, which aired last week, was not as memorable or jaw-dropping as the previous season premieres, so let’s pretend that this is the first episode of the season. Let’s go! OMG, you guys! Cookie doesn’t want to be with Lucious anymore. Nope. Never again. Cookie is not moved by the parade of…
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Disney Is Rebooting The Lion King With ‘Live Action’ Movie
Disney’s The Lion King will show up in theaters as a live-action movie, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Jon Favreau, director of Disney’s The Jungle Book, another animated film-turned-live action, announced on Facebook Wednesday that he will be working with Disney to reboot the much beloved movie. Disney confirmed the news on its website: This…
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I Think About My Funeral When Police Stop Me
What was Terence Cutcher thinking about before those Tulsa, Okla., police killed him? Every time cops stop me while I’m driving my car in the middle of the night, I begin thinking about how good my funeral will be. I think about a packed funeral home with standing room only. I have lots of friends,…