culture

Maybe the shutdown of parts of the federal government isn’t all that bad. Turns out, it resulted in the cancellation of a Ku Klux Kan rally that had been scheduled to take place over the weekend in Maryland at the Gettysburg National Park, the Daily News reports. The Confederate White Knights of Maryland had been…

On Wednesday, Joe Rickey Hundley pleaded guilty in Atlanta federal court to charges stemming from an incident on a Delta Airlines plane in February, in which he allegedly slapped a black toddler and told the child’s mother, Jessica Bennett, to shut the child up, using a racial slur. According to the Associated Press, Hundley faced…

On Tuesday evening, voters in New York City decided to make history. With more than 99 percent of precincts reporting, Letitia James, 50, was elected to be the next New York City public advocate, becoming the first African-American woman elected to a citywide office, after beating her opponent, Daniel Squadron, in a costly Democratic runoff.…

The Obama administration and states are under pressure to get health insurance exchanges up and running smoothly after consumers seeking coverage on the second day overwhelmed websites and tied up phone lines with questions, the Associated Press reports. The logjam is good news for President Obama because it shows high interest in what has become…

For decades, students at Prairie View A&M University who wanted to vote needed to prepare for a small hike if they did not have a car or ride of their own. Voting meant a mile-long walk to the county community center and waiting in line near a busy roadway. But for this year’s November elections, students…

(The Root) — “‪When my fiance and I are out, I often catch him looking at women who, let’s say, look more like his ex than me. It makes me feel some kinda way. I try to ignore or look away, and I know all men look, but it still makes me feel insecure.” —E.I. …

(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…

(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…

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…