culture

Master TV satirist Stephen Colbert frequently pokes fun at the notions of racial political correctness by having his brash conservative pundit character proclaim that he cannot see race. It’s a simple and reliably funny conceit that plays on the prevalent, if specious, notion that we live in a post-racial era, one that ignores, or optimistically…

“Are you serious?” he asked. And though I was, I couldn’t help but notice the disbelief in his blue eyes, his pale face furrowed in confusion. I searched his expression for an inkling of empathy. There was none. “Why,” he had to wonder, “can’t I say the word ‘nigga’?” Before you judge, consider the confusion,…

The situation is this: Two friends of mine; one white male, one black female. One very incendiary word. And the black girl wasn’t the one who said it.I watched the following exchange with nervous curiosity, my eyes flitting back and forth as if the two were engaged in an intense game of ping-pong. My white…

Thirty years ago this summer, I made my escape from deep in the heart of Texas, where far too many people seemed to think my name was “Uncle Tom” because of my musical tastes. My freedom train left Dallas and stopped at an Ivy League college in New York City; I figured this would be…

Tuesday mornings, after the children are delivered to school, I lose the business-casual attire of a working, suburban mommy, in favor of: — Sweat pants. (Pale yellow, loose-fitting.) — A short sleeved T-shirt. (Either the black-and-gold Parliament Funkadelic throwback or one of the many I own that are emblazoned with school or sport-team logos.) —…

Most men have gotten used to observing their wives or significant others grin at the TV whenever Sen. Barack Obama graces the screen. The Democratic nominee does not even have to be delivering one of his historic speeches—which seems to be every other day—to elicit such an adoring response. What men might not be accustomed…

I wish Brett Favre would go away. I don’t mean that in a bad way. He’s my mother’s favorite player. And as a Chicago Bears fan, I can say that beating the Packers won’t be as much fun without No. 4 to chase out of the pocket. I mean I wish Favre would go away…

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated celebrated a century of service this week. The Root takes a look back in pictures. ********** Lay Off Soror Barbie! Don’t let outdated stereotypes about AKAs stop us from celebrating the new black Barbie. ********** A ComplAKAted Kind of Sisterhood I love my pink and green, but we need to…

Honestly, I can’t get worked up about it. Maybe because it’s summertime. Maybe because economic analysts are predicting more than 100 U.S. banks could fail this year, and the bank-run scene from It’s a Wonderful Life keeps flashing through my mind. (Maybe I should mosey on down to the local branch.) Or maybe because it’s…

Jazz singer Rene Marie recently courted controversy when she performed at the “State of the City” address by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Expected to sing the “Star Spangled Banner,” Marie instead broke out into a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Some have complained, including Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo, that Marie needlessly made a…