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VIDEO: Michelle Obama's Healthy Hoedown
Michelle Obama’s Kitchen Garden has raised the hopes of local food activists since ground was broken way back in March 2009. THE ROOT has been in the dirt ever since, examining the frayed ties between black folks and the earth, and noting the first lady’s subtle push for health care reform over a lunch of…
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AUDIO: Detroit Mayor Dave Bing Warns City Has More Rough Days Ahead
Dave Bing knows Detroit’s in a bad way and says nursing it back to health is possible, but will require some hard work and sacrifice. From NPR:
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Foreclosure 3.0: Speculators Exploit the Wreckage
The foreclosure wrecking ball plowing through black neighborhoods keeps swinging. Yesterday’s predatory, subprime lenders have been replaced by today’s speculating, absentee owners. Alyssa Katz has been on the housing predation story for at least a decade, and in this month’s American Prospect she investigates what’s happening to all those foreclosed houses piling up in black…
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What Ever Happened to Kid 'n Play?
As if we needed any reassurance that times are hard, watch this video of one of our favorite early ‘90s stars. None other than Christopher “Kid” Reid, 45, peddling custom suits at what looks like a knockoff K&G fashion warehouse, SW Suits. And I thought his cameos on Sister, Sister were bad. According to wiki,…
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White Skin, Black Masks
More thoughts on race and Mad Men Season 3 thus far: To recap, Racialicious’ Latoya Peterson, writing for Double X, argued that Mad Men Seasons 1 and 2 came up short in the show’s portrayal (or lack thereof) of racial issues in the overall narrative of late ‘50s/early ‘60s social change. I responded with my…
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Remember the War in Afghanistan? There's a Progress Report Coming Out
Quiet as kept, we’re still at war with Afghanistan and Wenesday, the president is expecting a progress report from the general in charge, Stanley McChrystal. From The Washington Post: McChrystal, who commands both U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan and authored the report, calls the situation there “serious” but salvageable. The assessment is widely seen…
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Phoning It In
I’ve spent more time than I would have liked in doctors’ offices recently, and have been interested to note that virtually every single one has a sign that says, essentially, “please don’t use your phone in here.” Mostly the people I’ve seen have complied; they spend a lot of time playing with their smart phones,…
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BMW Disses Black People?
There is a story floating around the Internets that BMW has issued a “non urban dictate” for all advertising for the new line of Mini Coopers, which BMW makes. A “non urban dictate” is when companies don’t spend advertising dollars on media dedicated to people of color. Normally, you wouldn’t catch me printing up t-shirts…
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Rwandan Genocide Trial Begins in Finland
Francois Bazaramba, a former pastor, has been charged genocidal murder stemming from the execution of over 5,000 Tutsi men, women and children in 1994. Bazaramba himself is accused of planning many of these murders and has been charged with committing fifteen personally. Facing life in prison, the 58-year old has denied any and all wrongdoing.…
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VIDEO: AZ Pastor Doesn't Want President Obama Killed, Sort Of
Steven L. Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona hates President Barack Obama. Not enough to take up arms against him, but enough that he prays for his demise daily. Oh, and he hates George W Bush too. Uh…tell us how you really feel, Steve.