culture
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Racists Prove That They Care More About Gorillas Than Black Children
Debates about Harambe—a 450-pound, 17-year-old western lowland, silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo that zoo officials were forced to shoot to death May 28 after a 4-year-old boy fell into his enclosure—have reached fever pitch as the hashtag #JusticeForHarambe continues to circulate online. Harambe—whose name is derived from harambee, which is Swahili for “all pull together”—has…
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People You Probably Know if You’re a Country Black Person
I know I’m not the only one who felt some type of way when Damon Young continued his unwarranted attack on grits. It’s like he went into a Juneteenth celebration and yelled, “This is a fake Fourth of July!” But don’t worry, my country black people. As a representative from the “country-ass Negro” delegation, I’m…
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Dear White People: Here’s How to Interact With Your Black Co-Workers After They’ve Seen Roots
Hello, white people. Thanks for stopping by and reading! As many of you may already know, during the Memorial Day holiday, the History Channel began airing a four-part remake of Roots—the iconic miniseries tracing a black family’s history starting in West Africa, through American chattel slavery and up to the present day. As you can…
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I’ve Been Down in the Dad Hole for 4 Years and I Have Questions
Let me start this whole thing off by saying that I used to be cool. At one point in my life I was a working DJ, avid sneaker collector, hip-hop aficionado, fluent speaker of slang and avid consumer of modern popular culture. Then, a little over four years ago, things changed. I became a father.…
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An Ill. Woman Fired Warning Shots to Scare Off Man Who Had Just Killed Her Fiance. Now She Sits in Jail. How’s That Justice?
Here is what the law tells us: You have a right to protect yourself. Here is how the law is applied: If you are black and attempt to protect yourself, it’s highly likely that you will be arrested for protecting yourself. There is nothing new here. We all know that the application of the law…
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Your 4.0 GPA Won’t Protect You From Systemic Racism
Being “twice as good” won’t save you from becoming a target. Just ask 18-year-old Andrew Jones of Amite, La., who was denied the opportunity to serve as his class valedictorian. Despite earning a 4.0 grade point average, Jones was not permitted to participate in his high school graduation. According to reports, the student was stopped…
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Why People Have So Many Dumb Opinions About What Happened With Harambe the Gorilla, Explained
In your title you imply that many people have dumb opinions. Are you saying that people are generally stupid? I’m not saying that. I’m not not saying it. But I’m definitely not saying it. What I am saying is that none of us is immune to dumb opinions. Even the smartest and most aware of…
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Columbia University Student Nayla Kidd Is Courageous, Not Selfish or Crazy
Earlier this month, a Columbia University engineering student, Nayla Kidd, 19, was reported missing after she didn’t show up for her final exams at the Ivy League school in New York City. The story made national news. After a citywide (wo)man hunt—and terrifying her friends and family—Kidd was found in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she had…
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11 Summer Must-Reads for Young Readers
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor. Taylor, one of the first African-American children’s-book authors to gain widespread acclaim, later won the Newbery Medal for the book. Her work was pivotal in empowering black children to see themselves in young adult literature—inspiring…