culture
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Black NY Firefighters Settle Discrimination Lawsuit
A black firefighters group, the Vulcan Society of Black Firefighters, sued New York City, alleging discrimination in the Fire Department of New York, and Tuesday were told that minority fire department applicants will be eligible to receive back pay totaling $98 million, the Associated Press reports. AP notes that the settlement includes more than $6…
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High School Students Hail ‘White Power’ After Winning Basketball Game
A Michigan high school has shocked residents with racist tweets sent last Thursday celebrating the Howell High School’s boys basketball team’s win over Grand Blanc, MLive.com reports. According to the news site, several students are now facing disciplinary action for hailing their “white” team’s victory following the 54-49 win in the Class A regional final…
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3rd Victim Dies From Crash at South by Southwest
A suspected drunk driver who was fleeing police at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, is now responsible for three deaths, after the third victim died from injuries she sustained after being run over, the Associated Press reports. According to AP, Rashad Owens, 21, was fleeing police when he crashed through a barricade…
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Chris Brown Ordered Back to Prison
Looks like Chris Brown won’t be getting out of jail anytime soon. According to the Associated Press, the judge is keeping Brown in jail for at least a month after hearing that he had made troubling comments in rehab about being good at using guns and knives. The 24-year-old singer was arrested on Friday after…
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Will the New SAT Boost College Prospects for Black Students?
Major changes are coming to the SAT. Both the SAT and the ACT are used to influence admissions and placement at colleges and universities in the U.S. In 2016 the SAT will return to a 1,600-point scale from 2,400, eliminate antiquated vocabulary words and assess students’ understanding of context rather than rote memorization. The essay…
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Young, Black and Feminist
A growing collective of young black feminists is helping to give voice to communities that have long gone unheard and underrepresented. Social media platforms such as Twitter have given this new generation of activists a place to build community, to debate gender and sexual politics, and to use as a springboard for a career. Here’s…
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Black Youths Attending Princeton Conference Pulled Over by Police, Then This Happened
Exchanges between black youths and the police don’t always have to end in violence. What began as an unfortunate incident of alleged police profiling in Princeton, N.J., ended with a public-forum discussion with the officer who did the profiling. According to one member of the Black Youth Project 100, or BYP100, a youth-centered black activist…
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Brooklyn Firefighter Helps Save 4 Children While Battling 1st Blaze
It was Jordan Sullivan’s first fire, and he was still on probation as a firefighter, but the 36-year-old packed a huge punch at a Brooklyn, N.Y., apartment blaze Sunday, aiding in the rescue of four children, including a 5-month-old, the New York Post reports. “On the way in, my heart was racing. I was thinking,…
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Lupita Nyong’o in Star Wars?
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave breakout star and media darling, is rumored to be the next female lead in Star Wars: Episode VII. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Nyong’o met with Star Wars producer J.J. Abrams a few weeks before the Academy Awards, where she took home the best supporting actress statuette for the epic tale.…
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Oprah Winfrey Selling Harpo Studios in Chicago
A little piece of Americana is being sold to a Chicago developer as Oprah Winfrey is selling Harpo Studios. According to the Associated Press, Harpo Studios in Chicago is being sold to a developer, but the studio will remain on the property for another two years. Currently the 3.5-acre campus is home to some 200 employees. …