culture
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Dennis Rodman and North Korea: A Love Story
I guess it’s better to be a fool with “friends” than a fool alone. That’s the first thing that came to mind when I heard that NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman was bringing a cadre of “All Stars” to North Korea to play an exhibition game. I believed this even more after Rodman’s sometimes…
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Why Legalized Weed Is Good News for Young Black Men
As the legalization of marijuana promises to join the legalization of gay marriage as part of the unanticipatedly rapid social revolution that will define our times, we will be hearing certain ruminations. And not only from fire-breathing moralists easy to dismiss as “behind the times.” I refer to wiser heads worried that legalization will raise…
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Don’t Go to Parties for the Food: Build Your Networks
Ninety percent of all small businesses get business from referrals. So your network is your net worth in business, especially when you are starting out. One of the biggest challenges that holds back African-American business owners is not having a diverse network or not networking effectively. Sometimes deals boil down to who knows you, not…
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Tiger Mom’s Latest Book? Obnoxious, but Not Racist
With her first book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, in which she sang the praises of strict parenting and Chinese mothers in particular, Yale law professor Amy Chua evoked some bruising criticism. Some, like the Broad Side’s Joanne Bamberger, wrote that Chua’s parenting prescriptions “bordered on child abuse,” while others simply accused her of…
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Omaha Police Group Posts Video of Black Toddler Swearing and Warns About ‘The Thug Cycle’
The Omaha Police Officers Association is dealing with the backlash after posting on its site a video labeled “The Thug Cycle,” featuring a black toddler in diapers swearing and giving encouraging adults the middle finger, the Raw Story reports. “We here at OmahaPOA.com viewed the video and we knew that despite the fact that it…
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SNL Deserves No Love for Doing the Right Thing
Back in September, Saturday Night Live earned the ire of outspoken fans when the show announced its new cast lineup, which failed to include a black woman, a glaring omission. It didn’t help matters when black cast member Kenan Thompson blamed the show’s diversity problem on a weak talent pool. The SNL cast had not…
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Ann Coulter Calls Melissa Harris-Perry a ‘Token’ Black
Conservative pundit Ann Coulter insinuated on Monday that MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry was a token African American on the cable network. Coulter was on Fox New’s Hannity show discussing Harris-Perry’s apology over comments made on her show about Mitt Romney’s black grandchild. Harris-Perry has apologized for the slipup, which drew conservative fire but was also…
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Ohio Teacher Claims His Alleged Racist Comment About Obama Was Misunderstood
The southwest-Ohio teacher who allegedly told a black student with big dreams that “we don’t need another black president” is prepared to fight for his job and his reputation. Gil Voigt has stated that he is challenging the accusations and has requested a hearing so that he may defend himself, the Associated Press reports. He…
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Google’s Eyes Are Watching Zora Neale Hurston
If you thought you saw a familiar face this morning when you went to do your first Internet search of the day, it’s because you did. It was the famous face, framed by her ever-present ’20s-style cloche, of writer, anthropologist and all-around American icon—and iconoclast—Zora Neale Hurston. Google celebrated what would have been her 123rd…
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Motion Filed to Revoke Marissa Alexander’s Bond
Florida State Attorney Angela Corey has filed a motion to revoke the bond of Marissa Alexander, claiming that she has violated her parole, Florida Coast News reports. The Alexander case became national news after she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing what she argued was a warning shot at her abusive husband.…