culture
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Emmys 2015: And the Winner Is … Viola Davis or Taraji P. Henson?
The 2015 prime-time Emmy Awards have set a record, with 18 nominations for black actors and actresses this year. If this weren’t already huge enough, Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson have both been nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category for their performances in ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder and Fox’s Empire, respectively. If either of these two stars…
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Keep Your Hair Fly and Your Heart Rate High With These Tips
If you had to choose between your “too fly, gotta keep it dry” hairdo and your “tight and right” figure, which one would you pick? Unfortunately, when it comes to African-American women, about 2 out of every 5 prioritize their hair. I get it, the average blowout runs about $50, so spending that every week on…
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Unsung on Rapper YoYo: 25 Years Later, You Still Can’t Play Her Out
Even those who question how a recognizable ’90s rapper like YoYo is “unsung” should appreciate this installment of TV One’s juggernaut show. “Twenty-five years and I’m still standing,” Yolanda Whitaker says of her journey. While it’s no secret that female rappers were—and still are—scarce, most of us can only imagine how hard being in the…
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Can You Afford That Home Away From Home?
For most people, buying a vacation home may be one of the most significant purchases they will ever make. Potential buyers are often overwhelmed with sales pitches, website postings, and brochures that promise fun, happiness, and the good life. However, the most attractive homes in such places as Florida and California, or luxury mountain cabins,…
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Sanaa Lathan Might Not Be Who We Think She Is
A few days ago the Internet, especially the black quarters, was aflame with disbelief and WTF-ness at the news that, yes, Sanaa Lathan was indeed dating Karim Kharbouch, aka French Montana. Haaanh! The jokes only flew from there, with people questioning why such a refined, educated, well-to-do woman would date such an opposites-attract specimen like Mr.…
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Why PTOWB (Paid Time Off While Black) Needs to Happen
If you’re black and in America, there’s somewhere between a 100 percent and a 100 percent chance that the following has happened to you at least once. And somewhere between a 95 percent and 99 percent chance that it’s happened at least once this week. You’re minding your black-ass business, living your black-ass life. You…
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Black Cuba Declares, ‘Obama Brought Us Internet!’
The recent opening up of the Internet in Cuba is creating new international connections between Afro-Cubans and broader black global cultures. Francisco, a dark-skinned Cuban based in Havana who practices Santeria, an African-Diaspora religion from Cuba, stated, “Now we are finally connected,” as he added my email address to his phone and told me he…
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Black Stars Shine in 15 New TV Shows Worth Watching This Fall
Over the past year, shows like Black-ish, Empire and How to Get Away With Murder helped usher in a new level of entertainment-industry interest and confidence in shows featuring more diverse actors in key roles. Some people even expressed concern that the industry might overcompensate for years (decades) of lack of diversity with too much of it in the next TV-pilot season. Gasp!…
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7 Ways to Make The Perfect Guy a Less Horrible Movie
I went gaga the first time I saw the trailer for The Perfect Guy months ago. There was gorgeous, blue-eyed Michael Ealy playing crazy again, which he’s phenomenally good at, and there was Morris Chestnut, who is Idris Elba’s sole rival for finest celebrity man alive (in my opinion). And they were fighting over Sanaa…