culture

Would we care more if victims of violence were white? News One‘s Tamika Mallory explores the recurring question while reflecting on the recent murder of a Bronx, N.Y., teen, determining that the nation has become desensitized to murder in black communities. On Saturday, April 27th, I attended the funeral of 17-year-old Alphonza Bryant III who…

In a piece at CNN, contributor L.Z. Granderson checks in on the kerfuffle over the pulled Mountain Dew ad, calling it a sad day when the policing of comedy gets to the point where we can’t laugh at a talking goat. (CNN) — I went online this morning to see the Mountain Dew ad —…

Writing at CNN, Michael Lomax, a contributing editor at The Root and president and CEO of the United Negro College, reflects on the value of HBCUs nearly 159 years after the first institution was chartered. (CNN) – More than 35,000 students will graduate from college this year because of something that happened 159 years ago…

The Huffington Post is reporting that convicted double murderer Willie Jerome Manning, who has been on death row for nearly two decades, is set to be executed on Tuesday, after he was denied a DNA test that could save his life. In a 5-to-4 decision in April, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that there was…

Kris Kross, the popular 1990s rap duo, is undoubtedly best-known for their global hit, “Jump,” Vibe writes. But they also built a stable of follow-up hits, with accompanying videos. In light of the passing of Chris “Mack Daddy” Kelly, the site reflects on the group’s most memorable video moments. Can you name a few? Watch…

OK, what part of the game is this? Student council members at an Arizona high school thought it would be fun to host a “Redneck Day” to build school spirit leading up to prom week, according to the Huffington Post. The idea was for students at Queen Creek High School in Queen Creek, Ariz., which…

Writing at BlackAmericaWeb, Gregory Kane argues that black parents of teens should steer clear of Florida, after lawmakers allowed the arrest and expulsion of Kiera Wilmot over a science experiment. The gross miscarriage of justice represents business as usual when it comes to laws and black youth. Wilmot, according to the http://www.businessinsider.com story, is an…

In the New York Times, David Firestone argues that by trying to weaken President Barack Obama by blocking his proposals, Republicans are also insulting American voters. Republicans are clearly looking to do more than just deprive Mr. Obama of victories, however. The ultimate goal is to make him appear powerless and weak, a flailing figure…

Why is everyone blaming Danny Brown, who was essentially sexually assaulted by a fan when she rushed a stage to perform oral sex on him during a performance? asks fellow rapper Kitty Pryde in a provocative piece at Noisey. I’m mad that a person thought it was okay to pull another person’s pants down during…