Uncategorized
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Shock Theatre
There’s already a dangerously thin line between parody and minstrelsy; just ask Dave Chappelle. But Young Jean Lee isn’t afraid to walk it. The brilliant, young director and playwright has taken great pleasure in obscuring the line further—and she’s winning critical acclaim for doing so. Lee just closed a wildly successful New York City run…
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Obamas About the Town
Today, the first family continued to make nice with their new hometown, paying a surprise visit to the Capital City Public Charter School in Northwest Washington. On the heels of his much-publicized visit to local restaurant Ben’s Chili Bowl, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle hit up a second grade classroom just up the…
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Black Love Gift Guide
Slip a love note into this handcrafted felt heart by artist Tobiah Mundt. Or buy several and hide them all over the house for a romantic treasure hunt. Red Heart Pocket, Tobiah Mundt, $10. Letters of Marque, by actress Stacey Dash, offers high-end lingerie that will leave him speechless. Letters of Marque Silk Cotton Stretch…
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Daschle's Out.
Tom Daschle has asked President Barack Obama to take his name out of the running for human services secretary. The fact that that a few of his picks have retreated is either very good or very bad. Either the vetting process is crazy thorough and vigorous, or Obama makes really bad choices. I’m sick of…
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The End of Black History Month
When author and history professor Carter G. Woodson created what would become Black History Month in February 1926, America’s black citizens were on the outside looking in, spectators to the great American drama, subjected to a repression of aspiration and identity so severe that it amounted to domestic apartheid. Lynchings were so common that the…
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Obama Going Prime Time
President Barack Obama sits down for interviews with all of the major television networks on Tuesday. As the economy flags and his stimulus package continues to languish in Congress, Obama will tell America how he plans to “Fix it!” Two weeks out from his inauguration, and two days after his pre-Super Bowl fireside chat with…
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50 Cent vs. Rick Ross
It says a lot that rappers Nas and Jay-Z squashed their beef, given that Jay is rumored to have biblical knowledge of his baby-mama and put it out there for the world to hear. This, probably a punk move on Jay’s part. Leon said it best, but wveryone out there knows the rules: no women,…
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Buy American, or Else
Obama’s stimulus package, the bill he hopes will save the country from an economically dismal future, includes a “Buy American” clause. The clause instructs that U.S. steel, iron, manufacturing goods are to be used in construction work funded by the stimulus package. Well, it makes sense to me. I think. You know, considering it’s our…
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Are Black Republicans Obsolete?
Today, 12 p.m.: Join the washingtonpost.com Live Online discussion on MICHAEL STEELE AND THE GOP’s FUTURE with The Root’s deputy editor Terence Samuel. ***** They are black Republicans… A rapidly disappearing political subculture that seeks legitimacy by asserting that they are something different, something special—the other dark meat. They define themselves—with a quizzical ethos of…