culture
-
Black History's Future
The future National Museum of African American History and Culture — as envisioned by competing teams of architects — will most likely include water features and music halls, evocations of slave ships and the African past, and vistas acknowledging its important, monumental neighbors. Yesterday, the Smithsonian Institution unveiled conceptual designs from six prominent architecture teams…
-
-
Clues to Smith's 'Detective Agency'
He’s not the first person that you’d expect to author a series of mysteries starring Mma Precious Ramotswe, an enterprising “lady detective,” a Botswana woman of “traditional build.” Novelist Alexander McCall Smith is, after all, neither Botswanan nor female, but a Scottish law professor who was born in Zimbabwe and educated in Zimbabwe and Scotland. …
-
Friday's Headlines
CNN: Baltimore Surgeon Heals Wounds, Behavior CBS: The Fight Against Colon Cancer in the Black Community ESPN: Plaxico Burress’ Lawyers Talks Plea with DA; Says “Isn’t Shooting Yourself Bad Enough?” AP: Serena Williams Voted POY; Some Argue Michelle Obama’s Guns Still Superior MTV: T.I. Gets Year and a Day; Says Year Easy, Day Hard BJ:…
-
Remembering the Rens
True, there are plenty of basketball stories right now amid March Madness and the ever-tightening races for playoff position in the NBA. But there’s an important addition that should not be overlooked. This weekend marks the 70th anniversary of a landmark event in basketball. On March 28, 1939, the New York Renaissance, an all-black professional…
-
What Ever Happened to Dionne Farris?
Singer Dionne Farris had become little more than a musical footnote, that talented backup singer on Arrested Development’s alternative hip-hop classic “Tennessee,” who wrested the song from lead vocalist Speech as she wailed, “won’t you help me, won’t you help me, understand your plan.” Thankfully, she has resurfaced—on the Internet. For Truth If Not Love…
-
The No. 1 New HBO Series
At first blush, HBO’s new series, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, is an exercise in naiveté: It’s set in modern Botswana, but with its lush, color-saturated scenery, easy-going characters and airy, all’s-well-that-ends-well approach, it feels like a throwback to a mythical Africa, a kinder, gentler Africa that has little to do with the realities…
-
Why I Love Soulja’s Swag
Soulja Boy Tellem! Hopped up out tha bed, Turn ma swag on, Took a look in tha mirror said wassup, Yeeeeea, I’m gettin’ money (oohhh) -“Turn My Swag On” by Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em I have to admit, I sort of begrudgingly love Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On.” Though the Blackademic within should probably…
-
Hair Peace: A 5-Part Manifesto
Will the black hair wars ever end? Will the morning hair-combing hostilities between black mothers and daughters ever cease? Will the permed vs. natural debate be resolved in our lifetime? As a veteran of the Great Hair Skirmishes of the 1960s, I witnessed a brief, shining moment when large numbers of black women conquered the…