culture

President Barack Obama Sunday issued a statement congratulating Michael Sam, who made history Saturday when he became the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL, ABC News reports. “The President congratulates Michael Sam, the Rams and the NFL for taking an important step forward today in our Nation’s journey. From the playing…

Mother’s Day is here, and we think music should be part of your celebration of Mom. So here’s a playlist to properly get you started.  1. “Dear Mama” – Tupac Released in 1995, “Dear Mama” is considered by critics to be one of the best rap songs of all time. 2. “Grandma’s Hands” – Bill…

Beleaguered Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist tirade was spurred by jealousy of black men whom he viewed as competition for the affection of V. Stiviano, the New York Post reports, citing a new recording obtained by Radar Online. Explaining the rant that got him banned for life from the NBA, a man who…

Larry Wilmore, known for his role as the “Senior Black Correspondent” on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, is scheduled to replace Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central’s hit show, The Colbert Report, according to the Los Angeles Times. Wilmore will become Comedy Central’s first African-American late night host in January as host of The Minority Report…

Dr. Dre is poised to become hip-hop’s first billionaire after striking a $3.2 billion deal with Apple to sell Beats Electronics, an audio equipment and music-streaming service that he co-created, according to the Washington Post. The deal, on which Apple and Beats declined to comment, is reportedly the largest acquisition for the consumer electronics company,…

The African Film Festival is under way in New York, and two of its short films explore timely topics in unusual ways. Soko Sonko Mother’s Day is this Sunday in the United States, and in just 22 minutes, the comedic film Soko Sonko (The Market King, in English) shows the mayhem that can ensue when…

Los Angeles Superior Judge James R. Brandlin on Friday sentenced Chris Brown to serve 365 days in jail after the beleaguered R&B singer admitted that he violated probation last year, the Daily News reports. He was given credit for 234 days that he already served in jail and rehab, leaving him with 131 days to…

It was out of love, compassion and the promise of better opportunities that my mother fed me baby formula. Being new to America and struggling to breast-feed so soon after her cesarean section, my mother made desperate phone calls to my grandmother back home in Jamaica for support. The international calling cards (remember, this was…