culture
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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,…
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Like Cops Who Kill Unarmed Black Adults, Pre-K Teachers See Same 'Bad Dude' in Kids
Editor’s note: Once a month, this column will tackle broader questions about what the country should do about gaps in achievement and opportunity. Perception is a matter of life and death. Now a new study from Yale University delivers the news that even black babies suffer the burdens that racial stereotyping inflicts. Preschool educators’ implicit…
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Loving Tells One of the Most Important Love Stories in Black History
Imagine being cuddled with your loved one in bed, in the middle of the night. It’s peaceful, and the warmth of your spouse’s body sends goosebumps all down your skin. And then, boom! You’re both shaken awake by a police officer kicking down your door and yelling, “Get out of bed!” because your marriage is…
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Is Insecure Preying on Black Women’s Insecurities?
I may lose some friends over this. In fact, I may lose friends, followers, respect and possibly even my “black card” (which, apparently, has been under review since I dared address the Nate Parker issue). Which is unfortunate, since being black is one of my favorite things, and one of my favorite things about being…