culture

William Balfour, the estranged brother-in-law of Jennifer Hudson, has been arrested in the murders of the actress/singer’s mother, brother and nephew. Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in their South Side Chicago home Oct. 24. Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found dead from gunshot wounds in an…

This is how I knew from the very beginning that my mother loved me: Every morning, like clockwork, she would pull out the Green Monster, and every morning, as soon as I saw the thing, I would turn the other way and run. She would chase me around the living room of our brownstone with…

The economic downturn is affecting people worldwide and restaurants are often the first busineses to take hits, as people eat out less and less in hard times. One Japanese restaurant cut its staff of waiters and replaced them with monkeys that only work two hours a day, but bring in tourists and business from around…

The National Bureau of Economic Research released a statement that the United States has been in a recession that began in December 2007. Recessions are characterized by a decline in production, wages, and employment, among other factors. As we enter into the holiday shopping season, this news will likely serve as a shock to consumer…

Today, Barack Obama announced more cabinet and adviser selections. They, however, come without surprise. Outside the cabinet will be his campaign foreign policy adviser, Susan Rice as U.N. ambassador, and retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones as national security adviser. In the cabinet, Obama selected Eric Holder as Attorney General, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as…

Did anyone read Marie Arana’s opinion piece in Sunday’s Washington Post? If not, don’t bother. Here’s a synopsis (Well, actually, it’s an impersonation): Barack Obama is not black. He is multi-racial, like me (Arana). We can’t keep calling him black. If we do, then we will be ignoring his other ethnicities. But, since we are…

The first time I noticed the question being asked, the victory parties were barely over, tears of joy were still being shed and Oprah continued to vibrate. Inquiring minds in the black literary community really wanted an answer: Would there be an Obama effect in the publishing industry? People weren’t talking about Barack Obama’s own…

What’s a place in history worth? For a spot close to the inaugural city, out-of-towners are willing to shell out some major cash, spending as much as $57,000 a week for rent in Washington D.C or neighboring cities. With an expected one million visitors descending on the capital city this January, many local residents hope…

With all the talk about the economy and Obama’s transition team, The Buzz completely forgot about the soon-to-be second in command. Does anyone know what the heck happened to Joe Biden? Last we saw him, the potential VP was blowing out candles on the cupcakes Obama surprised him with for Biden’s 66th birthday. Perhaps, the…

Many folks older than 25 spent their childhoods at the layaway counter, wayyyyyyyyy in the back of a store, watching Mama put away that fly winter coat, entry-level designer bag or warm boots until they were paid in full. Now layaway is back! Over the past two decades, it had become little more than a…