culture
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Obamas Hit Broadway, Attend A Raisin in the Sun
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Friday watched A Raisin in the Sun at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where the stage masterpiece debuted more than 50 years ago, the Associated Press reports. They received a round of applause as they took their seats during the wildly popular production, which stars Denzel Washington,…
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Jermaine Jones Joins Racial Discrimination Suit Against American Idol
Jermaine Jones on Friday joined 10 black former American Idol contestants in a racial discrimination lawsuit, citing his disqualification from season 11 for having outstanding arrest warrants in New Jersey, ABC News reports. “I was and continue to be appreciative of the opportunity to perform as a Top 10 contestant during Season 11 of ‘American…
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Don’t Let Friend’s Unhappy Relationship Ruin Your Friendship
My friend of many years has been in a relationship for 15 years with a guy she is not married to. She tells me all the time that she wants this next step, but he always says, “When this happens” or “Not before that happens.” I am annoyed because she keeps complaining but does nothing.…
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At Sharpton Convention, Obama Slams Republicans for Restricting Voting
Just a day after his speech reflecting on the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which he credited with paving the way for his historic presidency—President Obama told modern-day civil rights activists that the gains of the last 50 years are at risk of being dismantled by Republican efforts to limit access to the…
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Chicago’s Urban Prep Does It Again: 100 Percent College Acceptance
From the time they enter Chicago’s Urban Prep Academies, the young men are asked to wear red ties. They may change these ties only once: after they have been admitted into college. During this year’s graduation ceremony, students who had achieved the honor were given new yellow ties with red stripes, a gesture to symbolize…
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Creator of For Brown Girls Blog Reportedly Commits Suicide at Age 22
Karyn Washington, the 22-year-old founder of the For Brown Girls website, which sought to empower chocolate-complexioned black women, died on April 8, reportedly committing suicide, according to MadameNoire. Her passing is a devastating loss for legions of black women who went online to seek refuge in any one of Washington’s many initiatives, including the #DarkSkinRedLip…
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NYPD Accused of Rendering Brooklyn Teen Quadriplegic
A Brooklyn, N.Y., mother has filed a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department, the Metropolitan Transit Authority and four officers, demanding answers as to how her 17-year-old son ended up paralyzed and eventually dead, DNAinfo New York reports. Karen Fludd says she has gotten very little information about what happened last May when…
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Black Couple Strip-Searched for $3 Earrings
A Texas couple is claiming that they were subjected to a strip search over a pair of $3 earrings when they stopped at a beauty-supply store to buy hair extensions, KHOU reports. The demeaning incident occurred last week at Y Beauty Supply in southeast Houston, where they were allegedly threatened and forced to remain in…
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Black Congresswomen Want Army to Reconsider Rules on Twists and Braids
Black women in the military have garnered the support of the powerful women of the Congressional Black Caucus. All 16 congresswomen signed on to a letter sent to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday asking him to reconsider the new grooming policies, which some consider “racially biased.” Early last week the U.S. Army came under…
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Google Honors Chemist Percy Lavon Julian
Google is on a roll, using Friday as a chance to serve up another one of its fun (and educational) doodles. This time it’s celebrating the birthday of the noted African-American chemist Percy Lavon Julian, who would have turned 115 today. Julian was the first black scientist to be inducted into the National Academy of…