culture
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North Carolina School Gives Black Student Confederate Hat as Prize
When Natasha Lea’s 9-year-old son, Jacob, got off the bus, she noticed that he was sporting a new gray hat with a black bill. She looked closer and saw that it was a Confederate-style costume piece. “I did not want to believe that. That the school actually let him walk around as an African-American child…
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Black Women Face Difficult Odds Dealing With Breast Cancer
In September 2012, Sabrina Fields was in the middle of one of those moments where everything—work, love life, family, future—seemed to be assured. Even ideal. Then 32, Fields had just finished a master’s degree while working full time. She was a highly valued employee in the finance division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.…
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Vanity Fair Just Doesn’t Understand Black Beauty
There were only two topics that should have dominated any conversation about actress Lupita Nyong’o last Thursday. That morning (and after much hype), she was officially nominated for an Academy Award for her first film role as Patsey, an enslaved woman abused by her sadistic owner, in 12 Years a Slave. And that evening she…
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Racist Rants About Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman
Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman woke up this morning to an avalanche of racist attacks on social media after the biggest game of his NFL career. Sherman is arguably the best defensive back in the NFL. He’s also a man with a communications degree from Stanford University who is working on his master’s. Last night, after…
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Obama Was Not Only Target of Former US District Judge Who Sent Racist Email
A former Montana judge who came under fire for sending a racist email involving President Barack Obama reportedly sent hundreds of other inappropriate messages from his federal email account, according to the findings of a judicial review panel released Friday, the Associated Press reports. Former U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull sent emails to personal and…
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Serena Williams Defeated in Australian Open Upset
Serena Williams’ long winning streak came to an end Sunday in an upset loss to Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round of the Australian Open, the Associated Press reports. Williams had not lost a match since August, one of only four defeats in 2013, and entered the fourth round with 25 straight wins, the AP…
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Dennis Rodman Seeks Treatment for Longtime Struggle With Alcoholism
After confessing that he was drunk when he made controversial comments in North Korea about a detained American missionary, former NBA superstar Dennis Rodman has checked into an undisclosed rehabilitation center, his agent told the New York Post on Saturday. The agent, Darren Prince, declined to say which facility will treat Rodman or how long…
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Jamaican Bobsled Team Needs $80,000 After Qualifying for Sochi Olympics
The Jamaican bobsled team may be headed to another Olympics, the Associated Press reports. But before they can hit the ice to compete in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the two-man team needs to raise at least $80,000 to pay for travel and equipment, the article says. “Right now,” sled driver Winston Watts told the…
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Michelle Obama’s Star-Studded 50th Birthday Party
Stars like Beyoncé, former NBA superstar Magic Johnson, singer Smokey Robinson and actor Samuel L. Jackson showed up at the White House Saturday evening to help Michelle Obama celebrate her 50th birthday, CNN reports. Family and friends left the gathering about 2 a.m. The celebration reportedly featured entertainment by Beyoncé, who performed several songs. The…
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Hey, Madonna, Here’s Why Your N-Word Hashtag Wasn’t OK
Madonna managed to accomplish something this weekend that she’s been unable to do with her music for the last couple of years: She got people talking about her with the same gusto usually reserved for A-list celebrities. You know, like the kind she used to be. Unfortunately for the once-ubiquitous Material Girl, this latest turn…