culture
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World Leaders Join South Africa to Say Goodbye to Nelson Mandela
Updated: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7:20 a.m. ET: While it’s likely that much will be made of the president’s handshake with Cuban President Raul Castro, Fidel’s brother, during the memorial to late South African President Nelson Mandela, it is best to put the exchange into context. Obama was greeting all of the speakers who were seated…
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I’ve Finally Come to My Senses About R. Kelly
Consider this a public penance. Last year I wrote a story for Clutch magazine, “No Longer Trapped in the Closet,” boldly defending my decision to still like R. Kelly’s music despite the rumors surrounding him about his proclivity for sex with underage girls. You have to understand, R. Kelly’s first solo album dropped in 1993,…
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‘Bill of Rights’ to Fight ‘Shopping While Black’ Outrages
On Monday, retail executives and civil rights leaders met to hash out a shopper’s “bill of rights,” New York’s Daily News reports. The list of rules—created after a rash of racial-profiling incidents in which black shoppers claimed that they were arrested, accosted or both after making purchases at Barneys New York and Macy’s—was created to…
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Children’s Coloring Book Features Ted Cruz, Says ‘Obamacare Is Worse Than Any War’
Here’s an interesting holiday-gift idea: a children’s coloring book inspired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and his policies. Missouri publisher Really Big Coloring Books describes the U.S. Senator “Ted” Cruz to the Future “comic coloring activity book” as “a non-partisan, fact-driven view of how Texas Sen. Rafael Edward ‘Ted’ Cruz became a U.S. senator and…
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Sonic Drive-in Apologizes for Controversial Signboard
Restaurant chain Sonic Drive-in formally apologized on Sunday for what it described as an “offensive” message on one of its signboards that set off a Twitter storm. The sign, which was put up outside a Belton, Miss., store, read, ” ‘KC Chiefs’ Will Scalp the Redskins Feed Them Whiskey Send -2- Reservation,” according to NBC…
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MC Hammer Owes $800,000 in Back Taxes
Stanley K. Burrell, better known as MC Hammer, and his wife, Stephanie, are being slapped with a federal lawsuit for failing to file 1996 and 1997 income taxes, TMZ reports. The duo apparently racked up a $798,033.48 bill but might not have such an easy time paying it off, since the rapper’s prime is long…
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Who Profits From Mandela’s Brand?
The face and name of Nelson Mandela are powerful branding tools that can help sell everything from sweatshirts to kitchen aprons. With the recent death of the former South African president and national treasure, there is a scramble as to who gets to control the Mandela brand and legacy, which are potent commercial and political…
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Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Martina Arroyo Receive Kennedy Center Honors
Herbie Hancock, who discovered jazz in high school and would later join Miles Davis’ band and single-handedly revolutionize the early hip-hop landscape, received the nation’s highest tribute for influencing American culture through arts, the Associated Press reports. Hancock joined Carlos Santana, Billy Joel, opera star Martina Arroyo and actress Shirley MacLaine in receiving the Kennedy…
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Jesse Owens’ Gold Medal Fetches Record Price
A 1936 Olympics gold medal won by Jesse Owens sold for $1,466,574 early Sunday morning, the highest price ever paid for a piece of Olympics memorabilia, ESPN reports. Owens won the gold medal at the games in Berlin and later gifted it to his good friend, entertainer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, who died in 1949. The…
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Exclusive: Black Girls Rock! Founder Hits Back at Insulting #whitegirlsrock
When I heard about the “#whitegirlsrock” hashtag that trended on Twitter, my immediate reaction was, “Well, duh! Of course white girls rock. Are they unaware?” White women’s beauty, talent, diversity and worldly contributions are affirmed everywhere: on billboards, on television, in magazines and in textbooks. However, the breadth and depth of the beauty, intellect, work…