culture
-
Men Who Love 'Scandal'
(The Root) — Thursday night is date night at my apartment. Nothing special, just drinks — a glass of water for me, red wine for her. We have not seen each other in months, and I’m excited to be reunited. Her name is Olivia Pope. We will meet in my living room, where she has…
-
'Mixed' Is for Cake Batter, Not People
(The Root) — “Are you mixed?” This question has always turned my stomach. For one, I think it’s rude for strangers to inquire about something so personal. What am I talking about — I’m not a fan of speaking to people in general! The unassuming assuming questioner has racked up one strike against himself simply…
-
Michael Jackson Jury Reaches Decision
(The Root) — The trial to determine liability in the death of Michael Jackson came to a close Wednesday night in Los Angeles, with the jury saying that concert promoter AEG Live did indeed hire Dr. Conrad Murray but was not negligible or liable for the pop star’s death in doing so. This brings an…
-
Why Black America Needs Obama's Voice on Gun Violence
Saying that black America needs the president’s leadership, Michael H. Cottman writes at BlackAmericaWeb that Obama is right to use his second term to help tackle the gang violence “as the black body count continues to rise in cities like Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis.” President Barack Obama is using his White House bully pulpit to…
-
House Republicans' Attack on Women's Health
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, writing at CNN, puts the spotlight on a little-noticed amendment that far-right House Republicans passed amid the government-shutdown fracas that would essentially allow employers and insurers to refuse to cover women’s preventive health care because of personal and “moral” objections. This would include birth control, HPV testing, breast-feeding services and…
-
Shellie Zimmerman's Doubts Come Too Late
The time for Shellie Zimmerman to raise questions about her husband George Zimmerman’s innocence was before or during his second-degree-murder trial in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. They’re immaterial now that he’s been acquitted, Charing Ball argues in a spot-on piece at Madame Noire. Well I see Shellie Zimmerman has been in the news,…
-
Jon Stewart Hits Fox for Mocking Poor Hurt by Shutdown
Comedy Central’s Daily Show host Jon Stewart launched into a diatribe against Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes, who sneered at Democrats affected by the government shutdown. He said they would start receiving “potted meat and Tang and get in [their] survival bunker,” the Raw Story reports. “[F—k] you,” Stewart said after a few seconds…
-
Georgia Slave Descendants Could Lose Homes in Tax Battle
In a battle that could wipe out one of the nation’s oldest African-American communities, residents of Georgia’s Sapelo Island are locked in a fight with local officials over tax hikes of up to 600 percent. As a result, residents of the small Hog Hammock community say they could be taxed out of their homes and…
-
What Would Olivia Pope Say?
(The Root) — We’ve already got a list of questions that we’re dying to have answered in the coming season of Scandal, and, well, we just can’t wait for the premiere to satiate our curiosity. I sit down with the people at the center of the all drama — Olivia, Harrison, Abby, Huck and Quinn…
-
Katie Couric Tackles Racial Profiling
(The Root) — Katie Couric has spent most of her career being known for her perky disposition and ability to transition seamlessly from interviewing a celebrity about a new movie to discussing a politician’s latest campaign. She is not exactly known for being a thought leader in the never-ending national conversation on race. But on…