culture
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How a Racist Serial Killer Restored My Faith in the Death Penalty
Last month, headlines blared, “U.S. Death Penalty Support Lowest in More Than 40 Years.” Based on that pronouncement, one might assume that an overwhelming number of Americans oppose the capital punishment. That assumption would be wrong. If anyone actually read past the provocative headlines and read the actual data, 60 percent of Americans still support…
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James McBride Wins National Book Award; Maya Angelou Honored
Sometimes it’s the pain of loss that pushes the creative. James McBride won the National Book Award in fiction, and upon accepting his award he spoke about his recent tragedies. He told the audience of 700 guests at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City that he wrote The Good Lord Bird—his novel about a…
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DNA Analysis Links FSU Quarterback to Accuser
In a story that many believe is being tried in the court of public opinion, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has confirmed that DNA provided by Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston matches the sample taken from the underwear of the woman who has accused him of sexual battery, ESPN.com reports. Winston’s attorney, Tim Jansen,…
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Chicago Teen Donates Kidney to Stranger to Save His Mom
It is clear that Tevin Hamilton loves his mom. The teenager from Chicago has wanted to donate his kidney to her since he was a little boy, CBS Chicago reports. “When I first found out, it was kind of sad, because I was like, ‘Now she’s helpless,’ and I want to save her,” Hamilton told…
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Teen Spent 3 Years at Rikers Without Being Convicted of Crime
In May of 2010, Kalief Browder, a 16-year-old sophomore in high school, was walking home in his Bronx, N.Y., neighborhood after a party. Someone told the police that Browder robbed him weeks ago. Cuffs were applied, and Browder was slammed behind one of the toughest prisons on the planet. The 16-year-old would stay there for…
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NYPD Officer Claims Macy’s Racially Profiled Her
Jenny Mendez was taking advantage of Black Friday sales last year like every other American, when she was arrested for shoplifting after a Macy’s security officer lied and said she confessed to the crime, the Huffington Post reports. Mendez, 29, claims that Macy’s employees racially profiled her, leading to the accusations of theft that ultimately…
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Barneys Report Contests Racial-Profiling Accusations
A new report commissioned by Barneys distances the store from the New York Police Department frisks that have both the business and the police force reeling from accusations of racial discrimination, the Associated Press reports. According to the review, the store did not have a “written or unwritten” policy to profile its customers of color…
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Death Row Inmate Denied Appeal Despite Racial Bias
In 1997, Duane Buck was convicted of capitol murder for killing his ex-girlfriend and a man in her Houston apartment. During the punishment phase of Buck’s trial, a psychologist testified that black people were more likely to commit violence. The jury then sentenced Buck to death, the Associated Press reports. In 2000, three years after Buck’s…
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Outgunned: Reducing Violence With Economic Opportunity
Editor’s note: Read part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the series. Chicago. New Orleans. Detroit. All of these cities are frequently cited as epicenters of gun violence, with stories about neighborhood shootings regularly appearing on our nightly news. But rarely will news coverage offer the full context for inner-city violence: In particular, these cities are among…
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What’s in a (Black) Name? An Interview With Searching for Shaniqua Director Phill Branch
The blogosphere has been on fire over a story about Kylie Austin, a biracial teen who changed her name from Keisha to Kylie because she was frustrated with being taunted about her “black” name by her mostly white peers. And there’s a new film on the way that takes this issue head-on. There have been…