culture
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The Supreme Court Thinks Racism Is Dead
The Guardian‘s Gary Younge breaks down why the Supreme Court was wrong to assume that racism is a nonissue in striking down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. He cites Paula Deen’s public relations debacle over her use of the n-word and George Zimmerman’s second-degree-murder trial as grievous examples of today’s racial climate.…
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Former Congressman William Gray Dead at 71
Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Philadelphia minister William Herbert Gray III has died at age 71, NBC10 News in Philadelphia reports. Gray was attending the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London when, according to a family spokesman, he died from natural causes. Born in Baton Rouge, La., Gray graduated from Simon Gratz…
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CNN 'N Word' Special? Deen's Accuser Says Lawsuit Was Never About the Slur
With “The N Word,” a special hosted by Don Lemon, CNN dedicated a good chunk of Monday-night programming to the word “n—ger”: who says it, what it means, how it compares to “cracker” and more. The discussion was apparently inspired in part by — and focused heavily on — the recent allegations of racism against…
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Sex Suits Against Kevin Clash Dismissed
On Monday, a judge in New York City threw out three sensational lawsuits against Kevin Clash, the longtime voice of beloved Sesame Street character Elmo, according to the Daily News. In the suits, Clash, 53, had been accused of preying on underage boys. He resigned from the show last year after the scandal erupted. The…
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Sentenced to Death Because He's Black?
(The Root) — Duane Buck may soon be facing execution in Houston’s Harris County, even though his death sentence is the clear product of racial discrimination. Now a petition has been launched at Change.org to win a new sentencing hearing for him. The jury was told that Mr. Buck was more likely to pose a…
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Top Moments From the BET Awards
Did you watch the BET Awards show last night? If so, you know there were a lot of memorable moments at the Staples Center in Los Angeles that are worth chatting about. The Associated Press lists five, including Charlie Wilson’s red coat. Kendrick Lamar and Miguel. Nicki Minaj’s chair. And where was Chris Tucker? CHARLIE WILSON:…
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An Attack on Abortion Is an Attack on Black Women
The war on women is an especially fierce battle for women of color and their access to health care, says France François at Ebony. Although placing restrictions on abortions affects all women, young women of color and low-income women would bear the brunt of any bill that restricts access to health services. Consider the following:…
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Keep It Classy, Lolo Jones
Lolo Jones’ recent inflammatory tweet about Rachel Jeantel, witness at George Zimmerman’s trial, to Madea, says a lot more about the running star than its does about Jeantel, writes Kirsten West Savali at NewsOne. There are many cultural critics and scholars who tackle the dysfunction inherited from Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. And the same…
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'Enter the Dragon' Actor Jim Kelly Dead at 67
On Saturday, Enter the Dragon actor and martial arts man James “Jim” Kelly lost his battle with cancer. He was 67 years old, reports the Associated Press. Sporting an Afro hairstyle and sideburns, Kelly made a splash with his one-liners and fight scenes in the 1973 martial arts classic. His later films included “Three the…
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Rev. Al Sharpton Blasts Mike Bloomberg Over Stop-and-Frisk Comments
Rev. Al Sharpton demanded an apology from New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg during a press conference on Saturday, according to the Daily News. On his weekly radio show, the mayor recently defended the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices, saying, “I think we disproportionately stop whites too much and minorities too little.” “The tone that has been set…