culture
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Scandal Recap: Olivia Pope Never Fails
We’re two episodes into season 4, and it looks like Shondaland is breaking us in gently: * Olivia is back to sporting white blazers, earnestly rocking a feathered side bang (c’mon, it’s 2014!) and handling and fixing everything—even the things that Abby is being paid to handle and fix. Despite Abby’s shining “Children die” moment…
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Caught Smoking Weed in Philly? You’ll Now Get a $25 Fine, Not Arrested
Critics of the war on drugs are having one hell of a week. First California passes a law Sunday to equalize the prison sentences that black and white defendants convicted of drug crimes receive, and then, on Wednesday, Philadelphia passed legislation that will require police officers to ticket people who are in possession of small amounts of marijuana instead of…
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About 100 People Linked to US Ebola Patient Are Being Screened by Health Officials
Approximately 100 people received word from Texas health officials that they need to come in for questioning, and possibly an examination, because they may have had contact with Thomas E. Duncan, the New York Times is reporting. Duncan is the only known person to have been diagnosed in the U.S. with the Ebola virus. The people being…
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No, a Boyfriend Doesn’t Have to Pay Bills Like a Husband
My best friend, who lives with her boyfriend, got into a car accident. Via mass email, she asked all her friends for money to help with the expensive repair. I said to her privately that her boyfriend should be handling that, not us. She called me judgmental and unrealistic, then we fought about my high…
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Obama and the Conundrum of Not Being a Post-Racial America
Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal is joined by Karla FC Holloway to talk about her new book, Legal Fictions: Constituting Race, Composing Literature, and the question of whether we are on a path to a post-racial America. She also weighs in on President Barack Obama’s ability to serve the interests of African Americans while…
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Ariz. Teacher Fired for Defending 9-Year-Old Against Students Using N-Word
Teachers are normally lauded when they defend their students, but in Phoenix-area elementary school teacher Pam Aister’s case, she was given the boot after she backed up a 9-year-old who was allegedly being tormented and called racist names by some peers, the New York Daily News reports. Fourth-grader Malachi Gillis was called a n—ger and…
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How to Comment on The Root’s Website
In order to join The Root’s commenting community, you must register through Facebook. This allows a transparency that we consider crucial for a safe and tolerant commenting environment. We strongly discourage the use of pseudonyms. We encourage commenters to use their real first and last names as the username. Your username will be displayed with…
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US Ebola Victim Made Several Stops on His Way to Texas
The man who became the first person in the U.S. to be diagnosed with Ebola made quite a few stops around the world before reaching his final destination in Dallas, the Associated Press reports. Thomas Eric Duncan’s 28-hour trip from Monrovia in Liberia to Dallas involved flying on two airlines and taking a total of…
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Report: Civil Rights Charges Against George Zimmerman Unlikely, Officials Say
Because of a lack of evidence, the Department of Justice is unlikely to bring any civil rights charges against former Florida neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman for the death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, three law-enforcement officials have told the Washington Post. Accusations that Trayvon’s death was racially motivated were what prompted the DOJ to start…
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Jahi McMath’s Family Wants Teen Declared ‘Alive’
Jahi McMath, the 13-year-old Oakland, Calif., teen who became the center of a national debate last year regarding end-of-life decision-making after doctors declared her legally dead when her family believed otherwise, is reportedly showing signs of life. According to CBS San Francisco, Jahi’s family is petitioning the courts to have an Alameda County judge declare…