culture

This week’s episode of Scandal introduced us to different sides of Olivia Pope and friends. 1. Leo Bergen Has a Kinky Side Sue, a 26-year-old played by Lena Dunham, has written a tell-all memoir about her kinky sexcapades with 17 of D.C.’s power players—ambassadors, senators … and Abby’s boyfriend, Leo Bergen (or “the Dustbuster,” as he’s called in…

In 2010 Terrance Hayes won the National Book Award for his fourth poetry collection, Lighthead. His first book, Muscular Music, won both a Whiting Award and the Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Hayes has also received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the MacArthur Foundation as well as a Pushcart…

When I worked with Mo’ne Davis to write her new book, Mo’ne Davis: Remember My Name: My Story From First Pitch to Game Changer, I met a 13-year-old who epitomizes the benefits of girls’ involvement in sports. Of course, I already knew about Mo’ne’s women’s-history-making Little League pitching performances, when she struck out scores of…

Fox’s megahit Empire brought its first season to a close last night with a two-part finale. It’s no secret that the series has stirred up controversy, inspired fierce devotion, garnered record-breaking ratings and changed the face of television. The show has made an impact in other ways, too: In just one short season, the Lyons…

It’s the dramatic two-hour finale of Empire, with appearances by Patti LaBelle, Rita Ora, Snoop Dogg and Juicy J. Actually, it’s a one-hour finale filled with an extra 60 minutes of flashbacks and filler. Take a drink whenever you see Lucious’ do-rag, Bunkie’s shooting or the infamous trash-can scene. Let’s go. One week away from…

As a Christian, I still can’t quite reconcile the notion of same-sex marriage with my faith. And as an attorney, I’m somewhat concerned that after same-sex marriage becomes the law of the land, there will be cases where clergy may be pressured—even sued—to force them to allow same-sex weddings in their churches. But I also…

Now that television has entered the era of Empire, claims that black-cast dramas don’t succeed no longer carry any weight. Since its Jan. 7 bow, viewers for the campy hip-hop-tinged drama have steadily increased, to nearly 15 million an episode. And black viewers reportedly account for 64 percent of Empire’s total audience. Behind the scenes,…

Until recently I hadn’t paid much attention to Azealia Banks. I knew her better as the girl who was always beefing on Twitter than as an emcee. But then, in December, the Harlem rapper did a completely politically incorrect interview with New York City radio station Hot 97, where she went off about race, racism and cultural…

After making history two years ago as the first twin co-valedictorians at Spelman College, Kirstie and Kristie Bronner continue to break new ground as they build careers as youth pastors at Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Austell, Ga. Located in the outskirts of Atlanta, the church is pastored by their father, Bishop Dale…