culture
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A Short List of the Smartest Things Donald Trump Has Ever Said
Donald Trump is an idiot. I mean, he has to be, right? The amount of vitriol that has spewed out of this man’s sorry excuse for lips over the course of his run for the White House is the thing of legend. Trump has offended Mexicans, “the Blacks,” Muslims, women, our intelligence and entire countries,…
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The Many Complaints of Abigail Fisher
On Thursday the Supreme Court upheld the University of Texas’ affirmative action policies and shot down claims by Abigail Fisher that the policy was unconstitutional. Although Fisher claimed that she was denied entry to the University of Texas because she was white; obviously her spot had been taken by some student of color who was…
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Is Orange the New Black Lives Matter? 6 Moments When OITNB Kept It Too Real on Race
“Can’t we have a race war? It’ll be fun!” Cindy—everyone’s favorite Afro-puff enthusiast—exclaims in the premiere of season 4 of Orange Is the New Black. Be careful what you wish for; this entire season is a study in what happens when microaggressions go macro. Frankly, I wasn’t ready. If you’ve yet to watch the new…
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Review: Free State of Jones, White Savior or Nah?
When I saw the first trailer for Free State of Jones, I knew I was not going to like it. White guy leads rebellion of poor whites and runaway blacks in the Civil War? I expected another white-savior movie where the hero gets the post-racial bonus prize of the black girlfriend or wife for his…
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How 2 Players Are Controlling Their NBA Draft Future
Professional-sports selection is a dehumanizing process, especially in the NBA, where you have young, athletic black men inspected like cattle by mostly white, wealthy owners and general managers. Their health is checked; their athletic prowess is tested; they are asked asinine questions that sometimes take things too far and become invasive. Then, once this is…
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How Former TV News Anchor Wendy Bell Is Suing for the Right to Be Racist, Explained
Who is Wendy Bell? Wendy Bell was a lead anchor for WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh’s ABC affiliate. But since she is no longer employed by WTAE (and apparently no longer employable), her only current job title is Professional White Woman. Why is she no longer employed and employable? On March 9, six people were killed in a…
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My Boyfriend’s Friend Keeps Telling Me My Man Is No Good. Should I Believe Him?
My best friend’s husband is friends with my boyfriend. I called to get advice and his male point of view. He always tells me to move on, and since that’s his friend, I feel like he and my best friend know more than they’re telling me. I ask “Why?” and all he says is I…
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#PulseShooting: A Homegoing for Our (Queer) Dead
Last week I attended a church member’s funeral. Hues of black and brown formed a beautiful palette as the saints marched in their white-and-black vestments. White for the sacredness of the one to whom the service was dedicated, and black for their anguish. The preacher read Scriptures as the family processioned into the church. This…
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'Crazy Baldheads' Seek to Eliminate Dreads
Is there a causal connection between hairstyles worn by black boys and their future success, and should we strongly encourage these boys to avoid wearing dreadlocks and braids? That’s what Steve Perry, Steve Harvey and the U.S. Army seem to be arguing. Recently, they teamed up to disseminate pearls for success to an audience of…