culture
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Gwen Ifill: Making News of Her Own
(The Root) — In 1999, journalist Gwen Ifill, then a congressional and political correspondent for NBC News, told the New York Times that she was “part terrified, part excited as you always are when you try something new.” She was talking about her new post as moderator of PBS’ Washington Week in Review. Now nearly…
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Obama Rodeo Clown at Missouri Fair Draws Protest
A crowd attending a rodeo show at the Missouri State Fair this weekend whooped and hollered as the announcer called for a clown wearing an Obama mask “to get gored,” according to the Raw Story. “I felt like I was at a Klan rally,” Missouri State Fair goer Perry Beam told Raw Story, his outrage…
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What Would MLK Tweet? Post on Facebook?
If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, would he tweet and post on Facebook? Robert M. Franklin, former president of Morehouse College, where King was an alum, raises the question at CNN as the nation prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a…
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Why Racism Does Not Explain Obama's Falling Approval Rating
In a piece at the Guardian that explores why the president is losing his footing among some voters of color, statistician Harry J. Enten says Barack Obama’s falling approval rating has more to do with the economy than racism. Moreover, Obama is also seeing his numbers drop among minorities. Gallup with its large sample sizes…
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Jeff Bezos: An Open Letter on Diversity at the Washington Post
Arguing that diversity is “critical for good journalism,” Farai Chideya, at her blog, Farai.com, writes an open letter congratulating new Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos on his acquisition and stressing the importance of a heterogeneous staff. As I outlined in a recent article for The Nation magazine, staffing and editorial diversity is critical for good journalism, and…
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Budding Romance Between Adrian Fenty and Steve Jobs' Widow?
The Washington Post is reporting that former Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty and Laurene Powell Jobs are dating after meeting two years ago at a Houston education conference. The two reportedly connected over a shared interest in school reform, the report says. Last year, the former D.C. mayor scored a plum job with Andreessen Horowitz, one…
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Chris Brown's Seizure Caused by 'Negativity' and 'Stress'
Sounds like Chris Brown needs a break. His rep says “intense fatigue and extreme emotional stress” caused the embattled 24-year-old singer’s seizure August 9, according to Hello Beautiful. “While in the studio working early this morning, Chris suffered a nonepileptic seizure (NES),” his rep confirmed to Us Weekly in a statement. Although the singer was…
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Don Lemon Responds to Critics: 'Attack the Problem'
CNN’s Don Lemon on Saturday addressed critics of his five suggestions for the African-American community, which created a firestorm of controversy when he presented them two weeks ago. The points, which align closely with Fox News host Bill O’Reilly’s assessment of the black community, prompted hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to write several blistering tweets and…
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Why We Need to March on Washington 50 Years Later
Benjamin Todd Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, writes at the Huffington Post that recent acts of voter suppression in Texas and South Carolina, the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act and George Zimmerman’s acquittal are just a few pressing reasons for a sequel to the historic March on Washington. The events…
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Some Couples Are Childless and Loving It
In a piece that explores the world of childless couples at Ebony, Josie Pickens says that unlike people who have doubts but have children anyway, childless couples are happy because they are forging their own way and living life on their terms. Lisa and Evan are happily planning a life together. It’s the cutest thing ever.…