culture
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How Adoption Taught Me to Surrender
Adoption can be grueling for hopeful parents, writes Shonda Rhimes in the Daily Beast. Yet the process, says the creator of Scandal, brought her a deep understanding of the meaning of surrender. I’ve never wanted to be pregnant, never suffered through the infertility that devastates some of my friends. Since I was 9 years old,…
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Countee Cullen to Be Inducted Into the NY Writers Hall of Fame
(The Root) — On June 4, the New York State Writers Hall of Fame will induct five outstanding authors, including Calvin Trillin, Alice McDermott, Walter Mosley, Marilyn Hacker and the late Countee Cullen. 2012’s honorees included E.L. Doctorow, Pete Hamill, Joyce Carol Oates and Toni Morrison, as well as John Cheever, Hart Crane, Edna Ferber,…
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Women Shot in Chris Dorner Manhunt to Receive Millions in Settlement
The two women shot while delivering newspapers in front of a LAPD officer’s home during the manhunt for fugitive former cop Christopher Dorner have reached a settlement for $4.2 million, reports the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles City Council must still ratify the agreement, announced Tuesday by Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich and…
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Man Arrested in Ricin Case Targeting Obama
Authorities arrested 41-year-old James Everett Dutschke in connection to the ricin-laced mail to President Obama, reports NBC News. A Tupelo, Miss. man has been arrested in connection with the ricin-laced letters sent to President Obama and a U.S. senator, police said Saturday. Everett Dutschke was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning by federal…
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What the 'Scandal' Impact Really Means
For some, Kerry Washington’s portrayal of Olivia Pope on Scandal is a coup because it dismisses the idea that black women are unattractive in mainstream society, writes the New York Times. It’s clear that “Scandal” has touched a nerve: Twitter regularly blows up with “Scandal”-related tweets when the show is on, and the flood of cyberspace…
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Black Producers Still Rare on Broadway
Updated April 30, 2013 (The Root) — Despite mixed reviews from critics, Motown: The Musical — produced by the record label’s legendary founder, Berry Gordy — is set to become one of Broadway’s biggest successes of 2013. [Editor’s note: It has received Tony Award nominations for sound design and orchestration, as well as nods to…
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Immigration-Reform Bill: Is This What We Were Promised?
Ebony‘s France François asks how close the Gang of Eight’s legislation comes to what advocates were hoping for. Last week, the Senate’s bipartisan Gang of Eight released an immigration reform bill to cautious praise and protest alike from both immigration advocates and opponents. Latino groups, employee unions, Silicon Valley representatives, and anti-immigration advocates have all…
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Ed Gordon Brings New 'Conversations'
(The Root) — If it’s black news and it’s been in the headlines, veteran journalist Ed Gordon has probably covered it. From hosting Detroit Black Journal to anchoring BET News to unpacking the week’s hottest topics with his panels on Weekly With Ed Gordon, he’s brought African-American news and commentary to televisions and radios across…
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Terror and How People of Color Live Every Day
Writing at BlackAmericaWeb, Tom Joyner says living in fear is the new normal in many black cities. This isn’t new to us anymore. Oklahoma City, New York, Boston and maybe West, Texas and Mobile, Alabama are all places where terrorists have struck right here on our own soil. And let’s not forget the poison-laced letter…
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No New Friends: Are We Shortchanging Ourselves?
Clutch magazine‘s Alisha Tillery asks whether people who say, “No thanks, I’m good” to making new connections are missing out. Listening to the radio yesterday, I heard DJ Khaled’s latest song, “No New Friends,” featuring our favorite go-to guy for hooks, Drake. I tried my best to listen with a musical ear (not possible), but…