culture

Back in the day, saints sang “Gimme that ole time religion.” But now a larger percentage of blacks are saying, “No thanks.” Unlike grandma and grandpa, who built their lives on deep religious faith, Bible study, prayer meetings and consistent church attendance, more black Americans—now 11 percent—say they have no religion at all. They are…

The Indalian Job: Sometimes, You Just Forget Your Color Newsday: The Zing Heard ‘Round the Hill: New Bill to Tax AIG Exec Bonuses at 100 Percent The Guardian: Pope Says Condoms Would Make African AIDS Crisis Worse; No, for Real, He Said That WP: New iPhone May Be on Horizon Because, You Know…that Whole ‘Turbines…

A few weekends ago, I rolled out of bed early Saturday morning to attend Tavis Smiley’s State of the Black Union symposium in Los Angeles. Like many Americans, I’m out of work. My money is tighter than a black power fist, and finding a job is challenging. So I was eager to get a dose…

David Johnson probably shouldn’t be an NBA prospect. He’s 25 years old, ancient for a possible rookie, and stands all of 5’10”. His college career lasted 10 games. He’s a junior-high counselor and the coach of a middle-school basketball team, has two kids and no professional agent. But he does have Jessica Raumer. His girlfriend…

WP: AIG Discloses Use of Bailout Funds; You Didn’t Get Any, But an Incompetent Did Times of London: Thousands of Girls Mutilated in Britain WSJ: Having Little Interest in Being Opposed, Chavez Sends Navy to Venezuela’s Seaport to Make This Clear AP: Imus Has Prostate Cancer; Rev. Al Sharpton to Protest This in Some Way…

Monday Black Enterprise: Top Republicans Want to Let Some Banks Fail; So Does Buzz and Everyone Else The Daily Mail: Longevity Linked to Body’s Reaction Time; Why Blacks Don’t Live Forever Unknown The Huffington Post: PM of Zimbabwe Involved In Car Accident, Wife Killed The Chicago Tribune: Consumers Willing to Make Sojourn to Buy Black…

NYT: Obama Pledges to Improve Food Safety; Peanut People Say, “Whatever Do You Mean”? MH: White House Drops ‘Enemy Combatant’ Term; GOP Still Clinging to ‘Evildoers’ WP: Blaming Bush in Vogue These Days; Why It Wouldn’t Be Is Uncertain Bloomberg: White House Tries to Reassure China About Debt, Says “We Got Yo’ Money Baby!” CNN:…

People who think age is a b**** are being far too generous. Age is an angry beast with a big chip on its shoulder, and it always has a score to settle with you. No one feels this more acutely than professional athletes confronting the vagaries of increasing frailty at an age that society beyond…

Every generation needs its Tom Joad, the everyman protagonist in The Grapes of Wrath, struggling in the face of untenable odds. Given the dire straits we face today, there is a filmmaking temptation to recreate Joad for modern times. In Explicit Ills actor-turned-director Mark Webber takes an unsuccessful stab at it. The film, in which…