culture
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Arrest Made in #IAmJada Rape Case of Texas Teen Whose Photos Went Viral
Two men have been arrested in the case of Jada, a Texas teen who experienced having pictures of herself after reportedly being sexually assaulted go viral on social media. In July, 16-year-old Jada was reportedly raped at a party, and pictures of her unconscious, naked body were posted to social media using the tag #jadapose.…
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New PBS DVD From Henry Louis Gates Jr. Explores African Influence on the Caribbean
Just as the U.S. has announced a resumption of diplomatic relations with Cuba, there will now be a way for Americans to learn more about the history of Afro-Cubans and other descendants of Africa across the Caribbean and Latin America. In a press release, PBS announced that it is releasing a new set on DVD…
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4-Year-Old Va. Boy Calls 911, Unlocks Door for Paramedics to Help Grandmother
Little Ra Sheed Jackson was home with his grandmother Nov. 29 in Richmond, Va., when the older woman suddenly collapsed. However, the smart 4-year-old jumped into action, knowing exactly what to do, WRIC reports. “Nana was on the floor,” Ra Sheed told the news station. “She was bleeding.” Ra Sheed’s mother was at work, but…
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Obama Signs US Spending Bill, Avoids Government Shutdown
President Barack Obama on Saturday signed a trillion-dollar spending bill that will keep the government up and running for the next nine months, Al-Jazeera reports. “Passage of the 1,603-page bill on Saturday was a long, tough struggle in the Senate and the House of Representatives marked by bitter disputes over changes to banking regulations and Obama’s recent executive order…
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John Crawford’s Family Files Suit Against Wal-Mart, the City and the Police
John Crawford’s family filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday “charging negligence and violations of Crawford’s civil rights” in the fatal shooting of the 22-year-old inside a Beavercreek, Ohio, Wal-Mart, the Associated Press is reporting. The suit is levied against “the city of Beavercreek, the two Beavercreek officers involved, the police chief and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.” A…
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The Year of Cops Caught on Camera
2014 has been the year of police violence caught on video. From Eric Garner’s death to the assault of an Arizona professor, police have been caught red-handed abusing their power. As the country continues to debate the use and effectiveness of police body cameras, what these videos have done is offered a glimpse into black…
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D’Angelo Has His Second Coming With Black Messiah
Like many people, I waited so long for D’Angelo’s new album that I stopped waiting. Its title, Black Messiah, partly mocks the idea that any artist—even the so-called R&B Jesus—could warrant such anticipation. But it’s also about something greater: the problem of waiting for messianic leadership from “on high” and the current refusal to wait…
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Indiana Cop Designs ‘Breathe Easy, Don’t Break the Law’ Shirts
“I Can’t Breathe” has become a popular rallying cry for activists around the country protesting the choke hold death of Staten Island, N.Y., father of six Eric Garner and police brutality in general. However, one Indiana cop is taking the phrase and transforming it to represent what he considers to be the other side of…
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Report: Key Witness in Darren Wilson Case Caught in Web of Lies
One of the key witnesses in Ferguson, Mo., police Officer Darren Wilson’s grand jury case has a history of making racist statements, as well as a history of mental illness, the Smoking Gun has revealed. “Witness 40,” who has been identified as Sandra McElroy, 45, also got herself involved in another prominent criminal case in…