culture
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Soul on Ice: A Black Man Goes to His 1st Hockey Game
Having just moved from Los Angeles to New York, I was more than lucky to have avoided my first truly harsh winter in 10 years. However, and I’m not sure of the internal machinations that fed this feeling, dodging the biting cold and fierce wind of winter left me a smidge unfulfilled. Empty. Hollow as…
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Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy of A Different World Reunite On-Screen
These days, the throwback is de rigueur on television, and it’s no different with the Disney Channel’s K.C. Undercover, which will soon reunite A Different World’s Dwayne Wayne with his paramour Whitley Gilbert, according to TVLine.com. K.C. Undercover, now in its second season, stars the darling Zendaya as K.C. Cooper, a high school student training to follow…
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An Opera for a Jazz Virtuoso: The Apollo Theater Honors Charlie Parker
The rich, buttery tenor of Lawrence Brownlee soars as if it’s on wings in the opening aria “Birdland.” He is channeling bebop genius Charlie Parker, whose life is at the center of the opera Charlie Parker’s Yardbird—co-produced by the Apollo Theater and Opera Philadelphia. It is set in New York City’s iconic Birdland jazz club…
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How Race, Economics Affect Treatment of Adult Sickle Cell Anemia
When Janoi Burgess was a child, he thought doctor appointments were fun. “I used to love it because they had a section where you could play games,” said Burgess, who was born with sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder. “They were really nice and friendly.” But when he turned 21, the South Florida resident…
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As a Playwright, Danai Gurira Gives Voice to African Women
The Walking Dead fans have known her as badass Michonne since she joined the AMC show’s third season in 2012, but Danai Gurira was an important, emerging playwright even prior to her television stardom. Although born in the U.S. to parents from then-Rhodesia, Gurira returned to the new nation of Zimbabwe at a young age.…
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Why a Black Person Would Support Trump, Explained
Who is Donald Trump? Donald Trump is a billionaire Bornean orangutan who escaped from the Pittsburgh Zoo 69 years ago and is now, inexplicably, the front-runner to receive the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race. If you forget for a moment the horror of the realization that a Bornean orangutan is potentially months away…
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Yes, My Ex and I Broke Up, but Did He Have to Ignore My Child’s Calls?
My boyfriend and I broke up last week. My family had a small surprise party for me tonight. My daughter texted my ex (not knowing that he and I had broken up) asking him to keep me out of the house. He ignored her text and calls. If he’s mad at me, fine! But ignoring…
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Scandal Recap: High Jinks on the Campaign Trail
Scandal’s presidential campaign is in full swing, and this week, all of the candidates are gearing up for their first debate, which will be hosted by Sally Langston on The Liberty Report. Billionaire narcissist Hollis Doyle, aka “the Texas Truthteller”: He’s the Donald Trump of Scandal’s presidential race, which is brilliant. Hollis is just going to tell it like…
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Dear Black Men, Please Go to the Damn Doctor
As it was for many others, the news of the death of Malik Taylor deeply resonated with and saddened me. But my feelings about this didn’t have much to do with his iconic status and/or my relationship with his music. Although my backpack is as massive as any other hip-hop fan’s—shake it and a Soundbombing…
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The Caucasian’s Guide to Living Under a Terrorist Threat
After my keynote address on talking about race and another about not wearing blackface on Halloween, I was again summoned yesterday to give an emergency speech to the secret monthly white-people meeting. The following is a transcript of my remarks: My Dear Caucasian Brethren, I want to first thank you for allowing me to speak…