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Who to Watch in Beijing
Between the start of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing—or, if you’re feeling particularly pretentious, the Games of the XXIX Olympiad—and the closing ceremonies on Aug. 24, more than 5,000 hours of live competition will be broadcast in this country by NBC and its affiliated platforms (cable and online). That is more than the amount…
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King James and the Spirit of '68
Does it really matter whether LeBron James endorses Barack Obama for president? And why should anyone care that he recently threw his support—and money—behind the presumptive Democratic nominee’s campaign? After all, James is 23 years old, plays basketball for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and is one of the stars of the 2008 Olympic hoops team.…
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Brett’s a Jet
This week’s trade of legendary Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets should make Packer fans happy and the NFL brass must be elated. But, how do the Jets fare? The fans in Packer land should be delighted for several reasons. Favre, the team’s all-time leader in many passing categories, as well…
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Obama's Sidekick Pick
“Well, how could they be jamming us if they don’t know…if we’re coming?” – Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) If you watch TV or go to the movies, you’re already pretty familiar with the black sidekick. From Rochester to Robin Quivers, there is frequently at least one African American in the crew to provide a…
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Can Black Journalists Be Trusted to Cover Obama?
When a weary and jet-lagged Barack Obama took the stage on the last day of the UNITY Journalists of Color convention in Chicago last month, most of the attendees had already left. But there was still a healthy crowd of over 2,500 there to hear the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. That is when, according to…
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A Cocktail for Prevention
Before we begin this discussion of HIV prevention, a few questions: · More than a handful of studies show that any American adult who’s made it past seventh grade knows how AIDS is transmitted and how to prevent it. So why do we still need to raise awareness about the disease? · How many of…
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China's Long March Across Africa
By now, we’re used to seeing foreign fingers in the African pot. For the latest act of this timeless drama, one need look no further than the Chinatown in Lagos, Nigeria. For years, a small community of Chinese workers ran restaurants or sold textiles in the city; today, however, a walled-off square is brimming with…
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Popeyes Didn't Do It
People-watching in the United States can be a taxing endeavor. Besides the unfavorable ratio of plants to concrete and pollutants, the West Philadelphia, Central Harlem and East Baltimore neighborhoods that I have called home over the last decade are filled with legions of morbidly obese, diabetic and hypertensive adults and children who struggle daily with…
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Dog Lovers for McCain
As much as I hate that the poster children for Valtrex and Child Protective Services (Paris Hilton and Britney Spears) have been injected into our political debate, a practical part of me recognizes that any campaign staffer paying attention to the election coverage would be forced to craft voter appeals aimed at the lowest common…
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Do Not Disturb
Summer means different things to different people. And it can mean different things depending upon the region of the country you’re in as well. I grew up in California but now reside in the Northeast. My understanding of summer has changed enormously, and how I measure a good one versus a bad one has never…