culture
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World-Renowned Kenyan-Born Scholar Ali Mazrui Dies at 81
Professor, political writer and one of Kenya’s brightest sons, Ali Mazrui died Monday at the age of 81. “Death has robbed us of one of Kenya’s greatest scholars,” Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told BBC News regarding the Kenyan-born scholar. Kenyatta called Mazrui a “towering” academic whose “intellectual contributions played a major role in shaping African scholarship,”…
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50 Years Ago Today, MLK Was Honored for His Dedication to Peace
Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the day Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to peace and achieving racial justice through nonviolent action. Recipients of the award, considered “the world’s most prestigious prize,” receive a medal, personal diploma and prize money. After being notified of his selection on Oct.…
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Out of My Racial Comfort Zone: Why a Predominantly White College Was Best for Me
Editor’s note: In honor of the movie Dear White People, a satirical drama about race and culture at a fictional Ivy League college, we decided to ask two black students to explain why they love or hate their experiences at a predominantly white institution of higher learning. Read part 2 here. Dear White People opens Friday.…
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Is Family Money the Difference Between Todd Gurley’s Case and Johnny Manziel’s Case?
What’s the difference between Todd Gurley and Johnny Manziel? Gurley, a football player from the University of Georgia—and a front-runner to win this year’s Heisman Trophy—was suspended indefinitely Thursday after allegations were reported to the school’s compliance office that the junior running back was paid to sign several sports-memorabilia items in the spring. A decision is…
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Detroit Cop Suspended After Getting Caught Wearing Murder Victim’s Watch
A murder victim’s expensive, German-made watch was found on a Detroit homicide sergeant, who has since been suspended, the Detroit News reports. According to the report, Sgt. Alex Vinson was in charge of a case involving an unidentified murder victim who was wearing the fancy watch, police Chief James Craig confirmed. According to police protocol,…
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Okla. Family’s Obama Halloween Tombstone Offends Neighbor
Halloween is known to bring up some pretty problematic (and sometimes very racist) themes in America, and one Oklahoma woman was particularly affronted when she noticed her neighbors’ Obama tombstone, KOCO reports. According to the report, Jamilla Phillips of Edmond was “absolutely offended” when she saw the fake tombstone across the street on her neighbors’…
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17 Arrested During Protest to Stop Police Violence in St. Louis
Planned protests this weekend throughout the St. Louis area to stop police violence led to at least 17 arrests Sunday as protesters staged an unplanned sit-in outside a convenience store and refused police orders to leave. St. Louis Police Department spokeswoman Schron Jackson told Reuters that those detained were arrested for “unlawful assembly” Sunday morning in…
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Watch: White Woman Comes to Black Man’s Aid, Tells Police to Leave
Last week Washington, D.C., police were called to investigate a suspected burglary. The police stopped a black man in a wealthy neighborhood who was minding his business and began questioning him. He told police that he had no idea why he was being stopped but believed that he was being singled out. Police told the…
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5 Things to Consider to Pick the Perfect College for You
Choosing a college is one of the first and biggest decisions young adults face on their path to successful careers. Picking the right college is a life-altering choice: Obtaining a degree will translate into a higher standard of living, greater social mobility and increased earning power during your working life. According to the College Board,…
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8 Things That Have Been ‘Columbused’ This Year
Cultural appropriation, and specifically the appropriation of black American culture, is nothing new—think rock and roll. But as of late, nothing has been safe from “Columbusing”—the art of discovering trends that are old hat to us. This year it’s happened to dance, fashion, slang and even food. Elle magazine has been the latest to pull…