culture
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Valerie Jarrett: What I've Learned
Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett spoke with Esquire about the personal anecdotes and advice that she’s used throughout her life. Anytime I was hesitant about taking a chance, my grandmother would say, “Valerie, put yourself in the path of lightning.” I was the first person in my family to become a lawyer. I was…
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Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Wins Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
On Monday, award sponsor the Cleveland Foundation announced the winners of the 78th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. The recipients are the following: * Laird Hunt, Kind One, Fiction * Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds, Fiction * Eugene Gloria, My Favorite Warlord, Poetry * Andrew Solomon, Far From the Tree, Nonfiction * Wole Soyinka, Lifetime Achievement …
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Boston Bombings: Obama Requests Moment of Silence
Following his last statement regarding the capture of the second Boston-bombing suspect on Friday, President Obama has asked for a moment of silence on Monday at 2:50 p.m. EDT, the time when the first bomb exploded at the Boston Marathon, to remember victims Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard, according to USA Today. Massachusetts…
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2 African Runners Win London Marathon
As the Boston area recovered in the wake of Friday’s manhunt for the Tsarnaev brothers, London’s marathon on Sunday went on without incident. Two African athletes took home the winning prizes, according to the Daily News. The men’s race was won by Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede; the women’s champion was Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo, not to be…
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How to Heal After Boston and Other Terrors
Amid the investigation and news cycle following the Boston Marathon bombings, Colorlines contributor Rinku Sen offers advice on how Americans can mend after such violence. When I heard about Boston, I wanted to push it away. I’m so exhausted from the cycle of sorrow, panic, defense and more sorrow that every incident of mass violence…
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Why We Can Never Give Up on Gun Control
With new gun control legislation derailed, Marian Wright Edelman writes at the Huffington Post why Americans must stay focused on changing the status quo. The fight to protect children, not guns is not over because: Ninety percent of Americans want a universal background check. This includes 94 percent of North Dakota voters, 89 percent of…
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Kermit Gosnell and the Politics of Abortion
In the New York Times, Ross Douthat looks at some of the ethical, philosophical and political issues exposed by the trial of abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who is on trial for murder in Philadelphia. In a society more comprehensively pro-abortion than our own, there would presumably be more doctors willing to perform late-term abortions and…
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Witness in Abortion-Doctor Trial Says Babies Were Born Alive
The horrific stories continue to pour out in the murder trial of abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia, reports CBS News. Prosecutors chose 28-year-old Kareema Cross as their final witness before resting their case against Dr. Kermit Gosnell. Cross said she saw more than 10 babies breathe, with their chests moving up and down. “I…
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The Fall of Allen Iverson
Some athletes can balance talent, fame, money and their personal demons, but for Allen Iverson, it has become a losing battle, according to the Washington Post. For the past three years, as Iverson chased an NBA comeback, his marriage fell apart and much of his fortune – he earned more than $150 million in salary…
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Getting Used to Part-Time Economic Recovery
It’s tough to find a job in America right now, especially if you’re looking for full-time employment, writes Gawker. These part-time jobs have fueled the 30-month economic recovery, leading to an unstable economy built on an increasingly uneven labor force. If you factor in these part-timers, as well as people who want to work but…