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Fighting Racism in the Age of Obama
No one said it would be easy. After all, whatâs simple about fighting something thatâs baked in the cake of American society, that constitutes its original sin? Racism. Thatâs racism with a big R and a little one. The kind thatâs in your face and explicit, and the kind that you canât grasp with your…
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Exposed: How Keanu Reevesâ Newest Film Got Whitewashed
In a world where people are taking to the streets, saying âBlack lives matterââwhere TV shows and films like Empire, Selma, Jane the Virgin, Straight Outta Compton, Fresh Off the Boat and Black-ish are getting high ratings and winning awardsâone movie studio allegedly said no to all that diversity and instead chose to take us…
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Historic Presidency, Historic Opposition: The Legacy of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama is going to be in the history books. This will happen regardless of his critics or his fans, both of which are legion. It will happen regardless of who wins the White House in November 2016. It will happen whether you love him adoringly, deride him with cynicism or hate him with all…
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Berry Gordy Had and Is Still Having a Wonderful Time
Stories. Berry Gordy has them. Stories of Diana Ross, whom he once romanced, leaving Motown for $20 million. Stories of Stevie Wonderâs motherâs list of demands before she would allow her child to sign with the label, which included a washer and dryer. Stories of Rick James smoking âMary Janeâ in the studio. And stories…
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Chicago Police Superintendent Out, Fired Amid Laquan McDonald Video Controversy
Someone had to go, and according to the Chicago Sun-Times, the someone is Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who was reportedly fired by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday amid multiple controversies involving the Chicago Police Department. “He has become an issue, rather than dealing with the issue, and a distraction,” Emanuel said, according to the…
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Video Released Showing Police-Shooting Death of Laquan McDonald
Video was released Tuesday night of the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police officers in October 2014. Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the case. The video shows Laquan being shot 16 times as he turns away from several officers who surround him. City officials tried unsuccessfully to…
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New White House Initiatives Are Great for Girls but Donât Compare to My Brotherâs Keeper
Blink and you would have missed it. Lost in much of the coverage of the Paris attacks, student protests and police shootings, more than a week ago, the White House announced a new series of initiatives meant to help women and girls of color. There was a daylong forum for it, a forum focused on…
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Chicagoâs Black Youth to Mobilize Over Video Release in Police Shooting Death of Laquan McDonald
Organizer Charlene Carruthers has no plans to watch the latest video showing a police shooting death of yet another black person. She wonât watch it. She doesnât need to watch it. She already knows what this is about. âI donât need to watch a video to know how the Chicago Police Department treats black people,â…
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911 Call: âIâm Hiding in the Office,â Says Jewelry-Store Clerk When Bucks Player Comes to Shop
Time to add another item to the already long list of things that black people cannot do: buy a Rolex. Buying a Rolex is supposed to be a happy occasion. Especially for the Milwaukee Bucksâ John Henson. Heâs 24. Heâs a baller. He has some cash to burn. And it would have been his first…
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Prison Kids Film Brings Awareness to Plight of Children Put in Solitary Confinement
Itâs time to end the practice of putting juveniles in solitary confinement. That was the message the makers of the new Fusion Investigative Unit documentary Prison Kids had for Washington, D.C., Wednesday as they held screenings on Capitol Hill and at the Motion Picture Association of Americaâs theater space in downtown D.C. Right now the…
