culture
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Poet Elizabeth Alexander on the Healing Power of Words
When asked how it felt to have President Barack Obama request she write a poem for his first inauguration, Elizabeth Alexander humbly responded: “I was just happy there was going to be a poem for the inaugural.” Alexander is a rarity—friend of presidents, daughter of civil rights leaders, Yale professor and Pulitzer Prize nominee. But above…
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The New Killing Fields: How Police Tourism Sanctions the Lethal Pursuit of Black People
The April 2 shooting death of Eric Harris by 73-year-old Tulsa, Okla., Reserve Deputy Robert Bates is more than just the latest tragedy involving a black man’s execution on film. Grisly footage from the body camera of an officer shows Harris, a black man with a criminal record, fleeing deputies who targeted him in an…
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The Real Lesson of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal
The Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal is almost over. A scandal that began in 2008 with reports of unusually high scores on mandatory standardized tests has come to a close with a sentencing hearing that looked more like the theater of the absurd than a meeting to determine sentences for those involved in a cheating…
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Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Boxing’s Last Big Bout?
Is this how boxing ends—not with a whimper but a bang? The May 2 bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been six years in the making. In that time, there’s been a flirtation with retirement and a brush with the law for Mayweather, and political office and album-making for Pacquiao, while their teams…
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Oprah’s Network Sues Man Accused of Posing as Celeb’s Nephew
The Oprah Winfrey Network on Friday filed a lawsuit against a Florida man who allegedly pretended to be the star’s nephew to win jobs and gifts, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Justin Jackson allegedly created OWN stationery to send letters that appeared to be from Winfrey in an effort to obtain jobs with Perry Ellis…
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Scandal Recap: In the Pursuit of Justice
“Justice” is the buzzword for this week’s episode of Scandal, but the characters had puzzling ways of pursuing it. Here are five surprises from last night’s installment. 1. Papa Pope is back … and he’s playing stupid. Last week Papa Pope used Olivia Pope’s new lover, Russell, to trick her into opening her door for him.…
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11 Reasons We Thank God It’s Friday (the Movie)
Craig Jones was fired—on his day off—and spent the next day with pothead Smokey in the 1995 film Friday. The movie cost $3.5 million, grossed $28,215,918 and spawned two sequels—and a third is reportedly in development. The “director’s cut” of the original gets a one-night-only re-release on April 20. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of…
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You Must Be Honest if You Don’t Want to Raise Your Boyfriend’s Kids
I have never wanted to have kids. My boyfriend is OK with this, since he had kids from a previous relationship. I welcome regular visits and stayovers, etc., from his two kids and am willing to assist financially, emotionally, academically, etc., throughout their lives, but never planned to be a full-time mom. He now wants full…
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This Is What Happens When 2 Generations of Black Female Activists Come Together
Two powerful black women, representing two generations of social activism, delivered dynamic speeches on racial justice, human rights and black radicalism Wednesday evening at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. Sonia Sanchez, the legendary Black Arts Movement poet and activist, reminded the more than 100 audience members—most of them young—that the Black Lives Matter movement is…
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Being Mary Jane Recap: When It All Falls Down
I owe my deepest apology to Mary Jane Paul. Hear me out. I rode her case all season about being an insufferable woman screwing up a good thing with the oh-so-perfect Sheldon. M.J. is many things, but dishonest is not one of them. Sheldon knew that M.J. wanted a baby. He saw it on TV,…