culture
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It's a First: Black Voting Rate in 2012 Higher Than White Rate
The Associated Press is reporting that for the first time, African American voters turned out at a higher rate than whites and other minority groups in 2012, reflecting a deeply divided presidential election in which blacks cast ballots in large numbers for Barack Obama and many whites failed to show up at the polls. Had…
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Fireworks, Drama Expected at Michael Jackson Trial
Opening statements are scheduled to begin on Monday in a small Los Angeles courtroom in Michael Jackson’s wrongful-death trial, CNN reports, and the proceedings could bring plenty of drama. The witness list includes such luminaries as Diana Ross, Spike Lee and Quincy Jones. Jackson’s mother, Katherine, and children have accused AEG Live, the promoters of…
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Jason Collins' 11 Best Quotes on Coming Out
In a story that appears in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated, 34-year-old Washington Wizards center Jason Collins says that he didn’t plan to be the first openly gay player in the league. But since he’s the new holder of that title, he took the opportunity to pen a piece on the topic…
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Chris Christie: Obama 'Kept Every Promise' on Sandy Aid
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Monday again praised President Barack Obama’s assistance to his home state after the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy, the Associated Press reports. Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program on the 6-month anniversary of the deadly storm, the Republican governor said presidential politics were the last thing on his mind…
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Obama to Nominate Anthony Foxx as Transportation Secretary
UPDATED Monday, April 29, 10:06 p.m. EDT: President Obama officially nominated Anthony Foxx this afternoon. Read The Root’s analysis here of how the move helps Obama clear the diversity hurdle. Earlier: Barack Obama is widely expected to nominate Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx on Monday to head the Department of Transportation, a White House official…
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Money, Not Color, Determines a Child's Academic Success
Ethnicity might not play as large a role in charting educational success as experts previously thought, writes Sean F. Reardon in the New York Times; it’s all about how much the parents earn. To make this trend concrete, consider two children, one from a family with income of $165,000 and one from a family with…
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Reported Domestic Violence to Police? You Might Be Evicted
The ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project is fighting a law that allows landlords to evict victims of domestic violence if they’ve asked for police help in Norristown, Pa., writes Sandra Park on the Huffington Post. The police threatened Ms. [Lakisha] Briggs with eviction because she had received their assistance for domestic violence. Under Norristown’s “disorderly behavior…
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Will Lauryn Hill's New Album Be Any Good?
The press attention about Lauryn Hill’s tax troubles has revealed one bright spot: She’s preparing new music. But Aisha Harris wonders on Slate if 15 years after her debut album, will Hill be able to recreate the magic? Referring to the “old conflict between art and commerce,” she wrote: This is about inequity, and the…
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Stop-and-Frisk Whistle-Blower Cops Say They're Harassed
The night shift, hovering bosses, poor work evaluations — officer Pedro Serrano told the Washington Post that he’s suffered all of these things for speaking out against the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policies. Serrano claims he’s been harassed, micromanaged and eventually transferred to a different precinct and put on the overnight shift. “It hasn’t…
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Chris Brown's Dad: I Don't Want Chris and Rihanna Together
For Clinton Brown, life was better for his son, Chris Brown, when he was not dating on-again, off-again girlfriend Rihanna, according to the Daily News. “I personally really didn’t want him and Rihanna back together,” said Clinton Brown, 48. “You have to have a balance in a relationship. You have to have someone who is…