culture
-
The History Channel Set to Remake 'Roots'
The History Channel is set to remake one of the biggest and most successful miniseries ever, Roots, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The cable network has acquired the rights to both the original miniseries as well as the book, Roots: the Saga of an American Family, from Alex Haley’s estate. Mark Wolper, son of the…
-
Dolphins' Player Incognito Told to 'Toughen Up' Teammate
Miami Dolphins’ coaches reportedly asked the offensive line’s leader, Richie Incognito, to toughen up teammate Jonathan Martin, the Sun Sentinel reports. Incognito, who is currently suspended from the Dolphins for bullying Martin, may have taken those instructions too far. According to the Sun Sentinel, Incognito was given his missive after Martin had missed a voluntary…
-
Jay Z's Luxe Gift-Giving May Violate MLB's Rules
Looks like Jay Z may be in hot water again. The Major League Baseball Players Association is reportedly investigating the rapper-turned-sports-agent for giving his all-star client Robinson Cano a $33,900 limited edition Shawn Carter Classic Fusion watch by Hublot, ESPN.com reports. According to the sports website, Cano received the exclusive watch, designed by Jay Z, as…
-
How Diversity Will Alter Black History
(The Root)—This is part 3 of a three-part series. To see the previous stories, click here and here. Time was, the social construct of the one-drop rule made United States history either black or white. The rule emerged from the South as a way to facilitate slavery and implement Jim Crow segregation. But while the…
-
Yes, Interracial Couples Can Handle '12 Years a Slave'
I’m planning to get a group of friends together to go see 12 Years a Slave, and most of us have read the reviews and are prepared for how harrowing it will be and the way it will depict the horrors of slavery. However, I’ve seen from what black friends and acquaintances share on Facebook…
-
Kanye Wears Confederate Flag into Barneys
As if rocking the confederate flag wasn’t enough, Kanye West was photographed coming out of Barneys, which has been steeped in controversy after several claims of targeting black shoppers as criminals, aka “shopping while black.” According to Us magazine, which posted the photo of the egomaniacal rapper on their website, West apparently lambasted Barneys at…
-
Roland Martin Hosts New TV News Show
Houston journalist Roland Martin debuted his new TV news show Monday, set to focus on the important news of the day from an African-American perspective, the Houston Chronicle reports. The platform, which has been a lifelong dream of Martin’s, is a one-hour program that will run alongside the final hour of his three-hour morning radio…
-
It's Handled, Gladiators. ‘Pope’ Is a Verb
(The Root)—It was bound to happen eventually. After two-and-a-half seasons of melodramatic conquests, the natives out there in TV land have been sufficiently immersed in Scandal-ese. Fans of the hit show have relished in having their own shorthand—simple phrases like “It’s handled” and “gladiators in suits,” to name a few—an instantly recognizable patois that sets…
-
Man Found Guilty of Murdering Sean Taylor
A 23-year-old man was convicted of armed burglary and second-degree murder in the 2007 shooting death of the Washington Redskins’ Sean Taylor, ESPN.com reports. Eric Rivera Jr., who could face life in prison, confessed to shooting Taylor shortly after he was arrested, but once on the stand he changed his story, claiming that his confession…
-
'Keisha' Ditches Black Name, Becomes 'Kylie'
After enduring taunts and insults about her name, a 19-year-old biracial teen decided she’d had enough. Keisha Austin will now be forever known as Kylie Austin, the Kansas City Star reports. Gone is the birth name given to her by her white mother because she believed it represented a strong, feminine, beautiful black woman. “I…