culture

Reading obituaries about John Hope Franklin reminded me about a long-standing beef I have with a certain limited way of thinking about who African Americans are. For me, though, the telling biographical fact was where he was born—Oklahoma. In its obituary, the Raleigh News & Observer said the eminent historian “gave definition to the African-American…

With her alabastrine skin and magnificent mane of dreadlocks, the performance artist M. Nahadr has a presence on stage that is hard to ignore and even harder to forget. Recently featured in Elle and Maxim magazines, the Maryland native combines music, poetry and theatre to create stage pieces such as MADWOMAN: A Contemporary Opera or…

Baseball gets its 2009 season underway this weekend, and rather than break out a crystal ball about all 30 teams, let’s look at a few key flashpoints. There won’t be a “this year’s Rays.” Last season, the Tampa Bay Rays stunned the sports world by going from a perennial cellar dweller, 66-96 in 2007 for…

CNN: Casualties, Up to 40 Hostages in Upstate New York Siege AP: Jobless Rate at 8.5%; 91.5% of America Real Shook Right Now American Prospect: Terence Samuel Discusses New $1T Man, the IMF; Ted DiBiase Jealous AJE: Sarkozy Rejects Obama’s Afghan Plan, Forgets French Could Have Been His 2nd Language NYT: Iowa Courts Lifting Ban…

WP: Blago Expected to Be Indicted Today (Did You Hear that Roland?) CNN: Michelle Obama Hugs Queen, (White) People Freak Out Reuters: Sarkozy Gives G20 Presser, Asked If Obama Hug Freaked Him Out Too BBC: G20 Seals $1T Deal; Media Asks, “No, But for Real, Did You See That Hug”? NYT: China Looks to Own…

Your brother needs to borrow money to pay the mortgage on a house he could have never afforded in the first place. Your parents’ 401k has been decimated, and they need a little help. Your sister is drowning in credit card debt, and it is up to you to throw her a lifeline.  Commercial lenders…

The marriage of jazz and spoken word is an iffy one—the seemingly promising union is often better on paper than in practice. Such is the case with Wynton Marsalis’ newest disc, He and She (Blue Note), a clumsy endeavor that finds the celebrated trumpeter and composer in dual roles as bandleader and narrator of a…

Bill Cosby, one of the country’s most enduring and familiar entertainers, has been selected to receive this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the Kennedy Center announced this morning. Cosby, 71, has conquered many media platforms in his nearly 50 years in show business, from stand-up to recordings to television to publishing. His wide-ranging…

Reuters: Taliban Spokesmen Say the Darnedest Things! WFAA: Police Misconduct Is for Quitters: Officer in Moats Incident Resigns ABC: Rio Plans to Wall in Slums, US: “Just Call it a ‘Housing Project’ and You’re Set” USAT: Calipari: ‘ I Do Not Walk On Water’, Leaving Feat to Obama, Jesus The Job: Conservation Can Be Deadly!…