culture

In the aftermath of controversy surrounding Italian posters of 12 Years a Slave that highlighted white supporting actors Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender instead of black star Chiwetel Ejiofor, it was announced Friday that Lupita Nyong’o would not attend the premiere in Capri, reports show. As a result, the 18th annual Capri Hollywood International Film…

Though its subject matter is, in some ways, very specific—black males in America talking about the issues of their identity—as an exhibition “Question Bridge: Black Males,” now on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, is a completely immersive experience, enthralling and engaging, by which any viewer can be at once confused and fascinated. The…

A horde of rowdy teens reportedly stormed through a Brooklyn, N.Y., shopping center Thursday evening, frightening workers and customers who were on the hunt for post-holiday bargains, CNN reports. The incident began at 6 p.m., when about 300 youth began roaming the mall at Kings Plaza Shopping Center, the report shows. They then burst into…

Kanye West, known for lashing out at various celebrities and politicians, vowed Friday to keep his mouth shut. The Chicago rapper made the statement during a performance in Toronto on his Yeezus tour, the New York Post reports. “Everything I’m saying that’s not allowed, soak it in right now,” he said during a rambling speech,…

President Barack Obama and those who know him have long acknowledged the profound impact that growing up in Hawaii has had on him. And yet as plans for an Obama presidential library get underway, lawmakers fear that their state will not appear on the list of possible locations, the Associated Press reports. Instead they worry…

A&E Networks announced Friday that it would resume filming its controversial hit show Duck Dynasty with Phil Robertson next spring, reversing a decision last week to suspend the star for making comments about homosexuality and African Americans, Fox News reports. The family, in an exclusive statement to Fox News, said it was “excited to keep…

Editor’s note: You can read part 1 here. In 2003 Kobe Bryant was going through a myriad of issues off the court. There was talk of his jealousy toward teammates, talk of a feud between Bryant and soon-to-be-former head coach Phil Jackson, and his team was about to lose the services of one of the…

“Recently I was told that my grandmother’s family line was linked to Nat Turner. I have done some research, but I am unable to get beyond my great-great-grandmother Gertrude Turner in Virginia. I just wanted to know if the Turner family has done a family tree and where Gertrude Turner is on it. I know…

First lady Michelle Obama is turning 50 on Jan. 17, and the White House plans to hold—wait for it, yes—a dance party! The party, to be held the following day, will be called, “Snacks & Sips & Dancing & Dessert,” according to Politico, which cites a report at the Chicago Tribune. Save-the-date emails are being…

A Southern California church, known for its cutting-edge Christmas displays, this year features a bleeding Trayvon Martin in its Nativity scene as part of a commentary on violence, the Raw Story reports. The artist, John Zachary, said that George Zimmerman’s acquittal this summer in the shooting death of the unarmed 17-year-old deserved further discussion. To…