their eyes were watching
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Rihanna Gives Love the Middle Finger
I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard Rihanna. Sure, she’s a singer—someone who makes their living hocking their vocal chords—-yea, OK, fine, whatever. But unlike MJ or Elvis or Whitney, I can’t call up Rihanna’s voice in my head and imagine what she’d sound like ordering greasy Chinese at 2 a.m., cussing out the cable…
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Going on the Offensive
Choe Sang-Hun of The New York Times recently reported on how South Korea is dealing with race in the wake of a growing migrant community. Anti-discrimination legislation in the country has been met with opposition from critics citing a difficulty “to define what was racially or culturally offensive.” Here in the U.S. we’re all scrambling for the same sense…
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One of Your Friends Might Be a Blackface Barack Obama for Halloween. Should You Get Upset?
A recent Clutch post, “ANTM Jumps on the Blackface Bandwagon,” scrutinized Top Model’s decision to stage a blackface photoshoot, especially in light of the recent outrage over the use of the controversial “art form” in French Vogue. Every year, people dress up like the current president for Halloween. Often, in ways that are less than…
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Mappin' All Over The World
After rescheduling due to inclement weather, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed their ode to the Big Apple last night before Game 2 of the World Series. We came across this Google map plotting some of the most beloved NYC landmarks Jay mentions in the song, from Tribeca Grill to Yankee Stadium. Though “Empire State of…
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Why Does Chris Brown Want to ‘Transform’ Twitter Into a Therapy Session?
Yes, Chris, we know. We know you’re sorry. We know you regret the events surrounding “that” night. We know Rihanna was the love of your life. We know you like to wear distractingly large bowties. And now, thanks to your Twitter page, we really know how much you miss her. Twitter is indeed the premier…
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Michelle Obama Is Glamourous
In the hustle and bustle of everything else that’s going on in the world, it’s nice to take a break and realize this moment. First she’s hula-hooping and double-dutching on the White House lawn. And now this. Jezebel reports that Mrs. Obama is the only first lady thus far to grace the cover of Glamour.…
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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner on Gossip Girl?
“Did I just hear that your long absent mother is coming to hear you speak?” asks Blair Waldorf when she learns that Brooklyn boho Vanessa Abrams’ legal guardians might actually get some screen time. Finally! On last night’s GG, Vanessa’s crazy hippie parents (who moved to Vermont and allowed their teenaged daughter to go back…
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French Vogue, White Models and Black Faces
I’m not sure what to make of the French Vogue fashion shoot that features model Lara Stone—she of the pale complexion—covered in black makeup. But one thing is certain: I’m not angry. It may be that I’m just exhausted from trying to dissect the fashion industry’s tortured and puzzling relationship with race. (I’m reminded of…
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We're all minorities, says Glee
“Santana! Wheels! Gay Kid! Come on move it! Asian! Other Asian! Aretha! Shaft!” If there exists any evidence that Fox’s hit dra-mu-dy “Glee” is anything other than one of the gutsiest shows of modern time, I haven’t seen it. For those unfamiliar with the drama-musical-comedy that is “Glee” check out the hilarious Fancast commercial. In…
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President Obama Gets His Latino Groove On
After seeing this slideshow from the White House’s Fiesta Latina, my knee-jerk reaction is “where’s Amaury or Benicio?” Puerto Rican isleños are almost completely absent from the U.S. Latino in-crowd. A “Fiesta Latina” denotes a diversity that’s still “in-the-works.” Yet it’s amazing to see Obama getting his Latino groove on. Especially after George López joked…