culture
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Dream Hampton: We Should Have the Right to Sell Weed [Retracted]
RETRACTED (6/12/18): This story has been removed because we have discovered it was in breach of our editorial standards. If you’d like to know more, you can read an editor’s note here. A cached version of the story is available here for transparency.
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Making a Way Out of No Way: Defending African-American Culture
I’m black and have always identified as such, and until recently, I never questioned exactly what that meant. Having grown up on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., formerly known as Chocolate City, attended an HBCU and worked at two black companies in the past, I’ve been happily surrounded by myriad black people. Recently, that’s included…
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Our Highly Selective Guide to the Emmys Is All About the Black Nominees
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards arrive on Sunday (8 p.m. on ABC), and while some of my favorite shows, like Game of Thrones and Veep, are expected to walk away with a boatload of trophies, there are several nominated performances by African-American stars for whom I’m rooting. And because we all love to see black…
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White ‘Black Lives Matter’ Protesters Walk Free After Shutting Down London Airport
Nine Black Lives Matter protesters in the United Kingdom will not serve any jail time or pay any fines after shutting down London City Airport on Sept. 6 to raise awareness about environmental racism—specifically air pollution emitted from the airport and its detrimental effects on black people in the surrounding neighborhood of Newham, the Daily Mail…
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My Ancestry Results Revealed a Difficult Truth Behind 'Good Hair' in My Family
In the bathroom of a Brooklyn, N.Y., bar over the weekend, a black woman stopped me and said, “Oh my, I love your hair! What are you mixed with?” It’s not the first time I’ve been asked that, but I took a pause before answering and eventually said to her, “Not mixed, just black.” Growing…
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The Conversation on Slavery and Its Legacy Has a Place at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
Thomas Jefferson. The mention of the name of our nation’s third president, for some Americans, brings to mind the Declaration of Independence, the founding of our country and Jefferson’s home, Monticello. For many others, his name is inextricably linked to a woman who could not access the independence guaranteed by the declaration he penned: Sally…
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Unique Views Podcast, Episode 11: Colin Powell Is Blacker Than Lil Wayne
Who would have thought that we would make it to 11 episodes? We sure didn’t. But nevertheless, here we are, back at it again, and this time I won’t waste your time telling you that I sing a cappella on this show. That’s right—I bring my dove tonsils out of retirement to give you guys…
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Darren Sharper, Convicted Rapist Currently in Prison for 18 Years, Up for NFL Hall of Fame
The NFL is going to have a lot more explaining to do, even as it continues to try to negotiate the concussion controversy and deal with domestic violence allegations made against several players over the years. Now social media is exploding at the news that convicted rapist and former NFL safety Darren Sharper has been…
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If You’re Trying to Blame Tyre King, Even a Little Bit, Then You’re the Real Problem
No sooner had the tragic news of Tyre King’s death hit the news than the apology brigade of both blacks and whites hit social media, ready to victim-blame a 13-year-old child for his own demise at the hands of Columbus, Ohio, police officers. It’s almost as if some folks within our community are eager to…
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The Root’s Young Futurists, Where Are They Now: Chance the Rapper
We. Love. Chance. Chancelor Bennett, also known as Chance the Rapper, is a 23-year-old who is soaring high within the music industry, even without a record deal. From his first mixtape, 10 Day, which was released in 2012, to his 2016 release, Coloring Book, the artist has defied the odds as a self-released superstar. The best…