Politics

Early last month, syndicated radio host Laura Schlessinger caused a stir by saying the word “nigger” several times on her radio program. At the time, I wrote that what she said, while trite, was not racist. Nevertheless, a hail of criticism in the immediate wake of the incident caused Schlessinger to apologize and resign, saying…

by Krissah Thompson The Rev. Al Sharpton’s civil rights organization, National Action Network, said Tuesday that it is putting its deep financial difficulties behind it. The statement came in response to a news report providing details about the organization’s shaky financial footing at the end of 2008. Tax records show it was constantly in debt…

When I arrived at the Home for Retired Racial Stereotypes, the Kingfish and his lawyer, Algonquin J. Calhoun, were huddled in a corner, whispering to each other in conspiratorial tones. “What are those two cooking up?” I asked my friend Buckwheat, the famous Our Gang character. “Here I is, Brother White,” Buckwheat squeaked. “And what…

Recently the Schott Foundation released a bleak report on the state of black male education. Only eight states graduate more than 70 percent of black non-Hispanic males from their high schools. Four states have a graduation rate between 60 percent and 69 percent. Twenty states (plus Washington D.C.) have graduation rates below 50 percent. Nationwide,…

Lawrence Ross is the author of the Los Angeles Times best-seller The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities. His newest book, Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses, is a blunt and frank look at the historical and contemporary issue of campus racism on predominantly white college…

by Jonathan Capeheart Beware members of Congress in safe districts. More often than not, they end up wrapping themselves in the corrupting cloak of entitlement. My favorite, as you probably know, is Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.). If you didn’t, just click here to get the quick debrief. But the gold in gall might have to…

The ire that black farmers and their advocates are currently feeling has two targets: the Senate’s failure to vote the money to complete the farmers’ settlement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and President Obama’s recent generous offer to white Arkansas farmers. Both examples of political expediency are bitter reminders of black farmers’ second-class status.…