culture
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For Those Considering Blaxit, I Present to You: Seoul, South Korea
Like most people who aren’t from Asia, I was tempted to paint South Korea and Japan with the same brush. Not because I had read ample historical literature about them and had come to an educated conclusion, but because I was lazy, young and stupid. Should you find yourself fascinated by tae kwon do, kimchi…
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Save Your Relationship: Go Downtown
Would you believe that as we near the end of the year 2017, there are still men out there who have not mastered the art of cunnilingus? It’s true, my sisters—I have met them. I shit you not. And it is the most frustrating thing ever. Yes, there is a right way and a wrong…
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From an Ex-Neoliberal: Why Ta-Nehisi Coates Keeps Talking About White Supremacy
I love Cornel West. Part of the reason I am a fan of his is that, before my nonfame and lack of fortune at The Root, I taught a college-level course called “Race as an Economic Construct.” The idea of the course was to eliminate the subjectivity of race theory by explaining race in America…
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What Well-Meaning Men Don’t Understand When It Comes to Life as a Woman
It seems we can’t go but a few days without hearing about another famous man’s name being linked to sexual harassment allegations. This has led to conversations from well-meaning men who don’t understand the prevalence of the threat of harassment. Well-meaning men have asked everything from the stupid, “Do I need to apologize to every…
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#MeToo Creator Tarana Burke Will Kick Off New Year’s Eve Countdown in NYC’s Times Square
Sixty seconds before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve this year, #MeToo founder Tarana Burke will push the Waterford crystal button that signals the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square and starts the official countdown leading us into 2018. Burke announced the appearance on her personal Twitter account Monday morning. “Welp!…
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Single Means Alone, Not Lonely
On Friday morning, Ann Coulter sent out a tweet about single people living empty, quiet lives of desperation and dying alone. Without looking for more context, I responded and said that as a single person, I lead a very fulfilling life. Of course, people were quick to jump in my mentions and correct me on…
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Who’s the Greatest: Kobe No. 8 or Kobe No. 24?
In a ceremony Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers will retire Kobe Bryant’s two jerseys—both No. 8 and No. 24—an honor that has never been received by any other player in the NBA, not even Michael Jordan. To coincide with that history-making event, Nike has brought back the Kobe and LeBron puppet campaign it first…
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Growing Up Without the ‘Christ’ in Christmas: What It’s Like Being Raised by a Christmas-Loving Atheist
Ever since I can remember, two constants have been in my life: My mother was never religious. She went all out for Christmas. Each year she attacked the holidays with an ever increasing fervor. She has lived in the same mostly white neighborhood for 23 years, where all the homes are as homogeneous and drab…
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For the Love of God? Evangelical Drug Traffickers Are Terrorizing Practitioners of Afro-Brazilian Religions
Candomblé priestess Carmen Flores was leaving her house three months ago when seven armed men confronted her. They demanded that she destroy the sacred contents of her house, a spiritual home for more than 125 followers of the Candomblé Afro-Brazilian religion. “Since my orisha is Oxum, our house was all about love,” said Flores, 66,…