culture
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Why Michael Sam’s Coming Out Is Good for Gay—and Straight—Black Men
Last year in the pages of The Root, I tried my best to explain “Why I Love Being a Black Man.” Read for yourself, but for me it boiled down to the complexities of embracing what it means to be a black man while embracing my own individuality, as well. And to me, Missouri defensive…
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Michael Dunn’s Fate and National Debate Rest in Jury’s Hands
The fate of Michael Dunn, the 47-year-old man who pumped nine bullets into a parked SUV carrying three teenagers and killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis, lies with a Florida jury. On the first full day of jury deliberations in the first-degree-murder charges against Dunn, the jury has asked to see a foam mannequin used as a…
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Michael Sam’s Father Says His Words Were ‘Twisted’
Michael Sam Sr. says the New York Times read him all wrong and took his words out of context in a Tuesday interview, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sam Sr. was portrayed as critical about his son’s admission that he’s gay. He was quoted in the article saying, “I’m old school. I’m a man-and-a-woman…
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Myrlie Evers-Williams Leaving NAACP Board After 3 Decades
Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams will step down from the board of the NAACP, marking an end to her 30 years as an official of the civil rights organization. Evers-Williams, who will retain the honorary title of chair emeritus, had hoped to be in New York for the NAACP’s board meeting on Friday to officially make the…
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Paula Deen Creates New Empire
Surprise, y’all! Paula Deen is not done yet. The celebrity chef who lost her culinary crown after she admitted to using racist terms is now intent on creating a new cooking empire, CNN Money reports. Deen has reportedly created a new company, Paula Deen Ventures, which will include restaurants, cruises, cookbooks, cookware and other merchandise…
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12 Years a Slave Now a Best-Seller
While 12 Years a Slave, the film, has been turning up at award show after award show, with its cast and crew nailing down quite a few trophies this season, it turns out that the memoir it’s based on isn’t doing too badly, either. Director Steve McQueen’s film bringing the profound and painful story to life…
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Why I Don’t Watch the Privileged Olympics
Oh, white people. I get it. The snow and the patriotism and the ice-skating lessons and freezing temperatures and the red cheeks of Winter Olympic-ness—I get it. I just can’t get into it. Or watch it or root for it, because it feels like expendable cash, and skating coaches, the frilliness of extravagance and privilege…
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Winter Storm Cripples South and East Coast, Kills 13
A punishing, relentless snowstorm slammed most of the Eastern United States Wednesday evening, grounding flights, halting travel and knocking out power to more than 350,00 customers, Reuters reports. Reuters notes that at least 13 deaths have been directly related to the blistering conditions, including three people who were killed when an ambulance transporting a patient…
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Richie Incognito Tweets That Jonathan Martin Was Suicidal
Looks like Richie Incognito just can’t keep quiet. The former Dolphins offensive lineman, who is still knee-deep in controversy surrounding bullying allegations lodged by ex-fellow teammate Jonathan Martin, took to Twitter Wednesday to voice his displeasure with Martin and Martin’s representative, the New York Post reports. Incognito, who is still awaiting the findings of an…
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What Does It Take to Be the Black ‘It’ Girl?
In some ways, Lupita Nyong’o fits the fashion-plate standard of beauty that’s changing, ever so slowly, but still frequently looks for a certain type: She’s thin and sculpted, with regal cheekbones and bearing to match. And her accent doesn’t hurt, either, in an America that’s still New World enough to be impressed by such things.…