culture
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Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles Are ‘Sisters’ in Competition
Four years ago a petite, timid Gabby Douglas made her national media debut in front of hundreds of reporters at the Olympic Media Summit. At the time, she was unknown to everyone except gymnastics insiders, but that changed when, two months later, she captured the all-around gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games. “Before,…
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Ben Carson Endorsed Donald Trump for a Job, Which Is One of the Blackest Things He’s Ever Done
You can say many things about Ben Carson, the back-ordered, decaffeinated coffee machine who recently dropped out of the presidential race. Iconic surgeon. Popeyes enthusiast. Vigilante. Black History Month book-report muse. Delusional motherf—ker. But one thing you cannot do is doubt his blackness bona fides. Yes, his actual politics, if enacted, would have put America back to 1953.…
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4 Things I Refuse to Do While Going on Vacation
Daylight saving has run up and kicked all of our collective asses, which means spring is finally coming around the corner and it’s time to rub what little coins I have together and start planning out my excursions for the rest of the year. Not only do I need the occasional respite from New York…
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Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Ken Burns Discuss How Race and Class Are Still America’s Fault Line
A frank discussion about race and class with two of the nation’s best-known historians quickly turned into a referendum on the rhetoric and vitriol that have turned the 2016 presidential campaign into what some see as a circus. Both documentarian Ken Burns and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. see the current electoral environment as…
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To the Men Who Are Hating on Ciara for Getting Engaged: Get Over It
Ciara’s been in the entertainment scene for over a decade, since she was introduced as the oddly titled princess of “Crunk & B” on her debut single, “Goodies,” in 2004. She’s had a few high-profile relationships. In 12 years, I can name three, maybe four men she’s dated. One includes Nayvadius “Future” Cash, her former…
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If You Don’t Love Our Kids, Stay Out of Our Schools
Nine-year-old Kaedyn G. goes to a private school in New Jersey. Last week at school, Kaedyn wore a hooded sweatshirt with the words “black brilliance” plainly displayed on the front of her hoodie. She was not in violation of the school’s dress code and had not broken any of the school’s rules regarding appearance. Yet…
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Need to Remove Racial Bias in Hiring for Tech Jobs? There’s an App for That
The excuse that top tech companies and large firms can’t find stellar, diverse talent will become a thing of the past if Stephanie Lampkin, founder of Blendoor, has anything to say about it. Lampkin announced the app’s official debut at a rooftop party Saturday during South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Blendoor is a mobile…
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Kerry Washington at SXSW: We Wouldn’t Have Had a 2nd Season of Scandal Without Social Media
Kerry Washington’s social media presence is enviable. Boasting more than 3 million followers on Twitter, the Scandal star’s ability to consistently engage fans online has proved a powerful boost to ratings and viewership for the show, as well as added visibility to other projects she’s embarked on in her rise to A-list status. “I know to…
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Digitalundivided Launches BIG Innovation Center in Atlanta for Black and Latina Women in Tech
Kathryn Finney just made a huge announcement at South by Southwest 2016, one that she hopes will change the scope of tech for women of color. Let’s start at the beginning. In 2003 Finney started the Budget Fashionista, a blog all about being fabulous on a dime. By 2004 Finney’s site had become one of…
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If ‘Thick Thighs Save Lives,’ Why Are You Fat-Shaming Women? 5 Reasons You Should Stop
“You probably shouldn’t call yourself ‘an amazon’ in your profile,” he messages me. “Oh, really? And why is that?” I respond. After all, at a smooth and stacked 5 feet 10 inches—with a penchant for heels—I find that most men I match with online aren’t even at my eye level, let alone taller. I figure…