culture
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Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon: Releasing Video an Attempt to ‘Besmirch’ Victim
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson aren’t in agreement over the release to the press of a store security video that allegedly shows Michael Brown stealing cigars from a convenience store. Brown, an unarmed Ferguson teen, was fatally shot by police Officer Darren Wilson a week ago, and the shooting has…
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Autopsy Shows Michael Brown Was Shot 6 Times; Mo. Gov. Orders National Guard to Ferguson
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is ordering the National Guard into Ferguson after a Sunday night of unrest resulting in police using tear gas to get protesters off the streets before a midnight curfew. The violence comes after news reports that a private autopsy ordered by the family of Michael Brown showed that the unarmed teenager,…
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8 of the Youngest Black College Graduates You Should Know
College is often seen as the beginning of a young person’s path into adulthood, but apparently these eight young black geniuses couldn’t wait. Some of these young college graduates began taking classes before they were legally able to drive. While hitting the books in law, medicine and science, these young graduates have broken records. 1.…
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How Ferguson Has Exposed a Civil Rights Generational Divide
This past week’s racial crisis in Ferguson, Mo., has uncovered a divide within the black community—one based on generation, class and the cloudy political vision offered by African-American politics in the Obama age. When asked who is the leader of the ongoing protests since the killing of Michael Brown—protests that have triggered Missouri’s governor to…
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Being an Atheist Is Not a ‘White Thing’ and It’s Not a Bad Thing. I’m Proof of That
I’m black and I’m an atheist. That really shouldn’t be a shocking statement. Everyone knows that African Americans aren’t a monolith. We have a wide variety of lifestyles and diverse opinions on many topics, religion included. But if you switch on the TV, you get a different story. The study of mass media has taught…
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An Uneasy Weekend in Ferguson
In the week since a white officer gunned down an unarmed 18-year-old black male after a confrontation in Ferguson, Mo., waves of violence and unrest have coursed through the Midwestern city as scores of protesters demand answers. Nationally, social media users have been monitoring the case like private investigators, seeeking answers, posting pictures, providing updates…
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Joe Morton and Uzo Aduba Win Emmys
Two top black actors took home awards from last night’s Creative Arts Emmys ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, including Joe Morton for his wildly popular role as Elijah Pope on ABC’s Scandal, according to the Hollywood Reporter. And Uzo Aduba won for her portrayal of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” on Netflix’s Orange Is…
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Eric Holder Orders 2nd Autopsy in Ferguson Case
Updated Sunday, Aug. 17, 11:37 a.m. EDT: U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder instructed officials to arrange for a federal medical examiner to perform a second autopsy in the police shooting death of Michael Brown, according to a statement released Sunday by the Department of Justice. Holder cites a request from the family and “the extraordinary…
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One Last Summer Road Trip? Apps to Keep the Kids Happy
Gone are the days when families would play games or sing a song to pass the time during Labor Day road trips. But not all electronic entertainment is created equal. To avoid the dreaded question, “Are we there yet?,” check out these fun, creativity-inspiring and educational apps your kids will love. And let the countdown…
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Did School Integration Fail Black Children?
“Back to school” is just around the corner, and 60 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, many children will be returning to “resegregated” schools. The anniversary year has prompted much investigation and analysis, most pointing toward waning enforcement of integration orders. But what if integration itself is part of the problem? As…