culture
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Time’s Up on Men Telling Single Women How to Be Worthy of Marriage
The straights are at it again. Over the weekend, singer Ciara caused an internet stir when she posted on Instagram a clip from a sermon by Houston’s Lakewood megachurch pastor John Gray telling single women why they’re not married. “Too many women want to be married but you’re walking in the spirit of ‘girlfriend,’” Pastor…
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Justin Timberlake Claims He Made Peace With Janet Jackson, so Why Do I Still Want Michael Jackson’s Ghost to Haunt Him in Retaliation?
When Justin Timberlake revealed to Apple Music’s Beats 1 host Zane Lowe that he “absolutely” made peace with Janet Jackson following the controversy that erupted from the 2004 Super Bowl, all I could hear was one of my favorite Negro colloquialisms: “Bitch, you lying.” Although I am not privy to whatever conversation Timberlake might have…
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Hey, Dude: Black Panther Wasn’t Filmed in Africa, Just Like Star Wars Wasn’t Filmed in Space
I am the last person to believe in black sacred cows. You want to go after the Obamas? Go for it. You want to question the quality of Beyoncé’s music? Have at it. You want to say that some of Ava DuVernay’s movies are boring? Be my guest. We’re ’bout that life here at The…
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Roe v. Wade 45: My Mother and My Abortion
My mother and I were never close. It’s probably because we’re so alike—stubborn, unyielding and always right. It’s hard to have a healthy relationship with someone with whom you spend most of your time butting heads. There were times in my life when my mother and I went months without speaking, only coming together again…
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Do We Really Need a Super Fly Remake? Do We Need Any of These Blaxploitation Remakes?
Last fall, Variety reported that Sony was working on a remake of the 1972 blaxploitation flick Super Fly. My immediate response was, “What the fuck for?” And despite all my cries to Black Jesus that we have suffered enough already in Trump’s America, not only is the Super Fly remake still on, but it has…
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Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart Is a Loving Look at the Legacy of Lorraine Hansberry
I wanted to be able to come here and speak with you on this occasion because you are young, gifted and black. … I, for one, can think of no more dynamic combination that a person might be. … And that is why I say to you that, though it be a thrilling and marvelous…
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Tracing Your Roots: Were My Ancestors Freed in a Big Court Case?
The largest manumission case in U.S. history led to a unique community in Virginia. Dear Professor Gates: My father’s side of the family are the Pleasantses from Henrico County, Va. They were free since around 1760 due to John and Robert Pleasants setting their slaves free and going to court with John Marshall as their…
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Protect Your Tresses: Hair-Care Tips for the Reluctant Fitness Enthusiast
Stomping out the pavement for a few miles four times a week is how I’m able to gain my clarity and preserve my sexy. But just as frequently, my dreadlocks and scalp kick my ass just as hard as my fitness regimen. And when I try to recruit a new fitness buddy, I’m frequently met…
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Aziz Ansari and Shitholes: Men Understand Consent Like White America Understands Racism
America is still in the throes of two ear-deafening shouting matches over private episodes that somehow became public knowledge. Although they were vastly different occurrences, they parallel each other in that the responses to both incidents were both loud and angry. I’m sure you’re exhausted from hearing about the first: when our Dorito-dust-covered doofus president…
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The Black Woman’s Tale: Why Margaret Atwood’s Espousal of White Feminist Beliefs Shouldn’t Surprise You
2018 is off to a pretty interesting start. At the conclusion of the painful year that was 2017, various women of assorted celebrity backgrounds assembled to simultaneously weaponize their privilege and latch onto the momentum and resurgence of Tarana Burke’s “Me Too” movement. This gave birth to a new movement on Jan. 1, 2018: #TimesUp.…