Politics

Black folks shouldn’t have their “black card” revoked just because they don’t share the opinions or conventional political views of the black community. There is a troubling trend emerging in the black community relative to our freedom of speech and the right to dissent. I have been attacked and vilified, marginalized by some because I…

The daily death toll in Afghanistan makes it hard to see beyond the horizon. Twelve killed Wednesday in a home used by UN staffers; eight soldiers dead the day before. This in addition to hundreds killed this week in neighboring Pakistan and in Iraq. As the administration considers its options on Afghanistan, much of the…

Back in 2007, foreclosure seemed inevitable for Jenie McCaslin, a 70-year old African-American widow, who was unable to maintain the high monthly payments on a loan agreement she entered to refinance the mortgage on her southwest Atlanta home. Desperate to save the home she had lived in for nearly 40 years, Ms. McCaslin sought help…

Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. RACKSTRAW DOWNES Age: 69 Hometown: Pembury, Kent, England Current Location: New York Occupation: Artist 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you?…

Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. LYNSEY ADDARIO Age: 35 Hometown: Westbury, Connecticut Current Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Occupation: Freelance photojournalist for National Geographic magazine, The New York Times and the New York Times…

Renegade, Renaissance, Radiance and Rosebud, better known as the Obamas (Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha, respectively), were off on Marine One, which meant Kristen Jarvis could relax, briefly. Moments after the first family were whisked off to their vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Jarvis, special assistant for scheduling and traveling aide for the first lady, took…

Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. Age: 33 Hometown: Rome, Georgia Current Location: State College, Pennsylvania Occupation: Professor of Biology 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you?…

Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. Age: 54 Hometown: Miami, Florida Current Location: Los Angeles, California Occupation: Law professor 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you? I…

One early morning five years ago, Calvin James walked outside the Jersey City apartment, where his girlfriend and 6-year-old son slept, to put the trash on the street for pickup. As soon as James, then 45, walked outside, he was greeted by four people jumping out of a black SUV. Dressed in uniforms with “ICE”…

Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. Age: 48 Current Location: New Haven, Connecticut Occupation: Professor at Yale University 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you? Enthusiastic, passionate, adventurous, nerdy 2. What…