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The Pathology Behind the Pied Piper: When Will We Stop Protecting Predators?
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly … and R. Kelly will likely be a predator for the rest of his life. As Iâm sure youâve heard by now, new allegations surfaced Monday that couldnât be more fitting or less shocking about the man who calls himself âThe Pied Piper of R&B.â Nearly 23 years after…
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Building Without Tools: 4:44 and the Power of Vulnerability, Part 2
What I thought when I met my dad was, âOh, Iâm free to love now.â But itâs like, how are you gonna do it? … Youâve never done this before; no one informed you how to do this. You donât even have the tools to do it ⊠âWill 4:44 be for black men the…
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Fighting for the Fairy Tale: 4:44 and the Power of Vulnerability
Look, I apologize, often womanizedTook for my child to be bornTo see through a womanâs eyes ⊠Itâs the public apology some have been anticipating since the release of BeyoncĂ©âs Lemonade, her seemingly confessional opus, almost entirely themed on surviving the pain of infidelity. Aside from being a groundbreaking hit, the visual album inevitably rekindled…
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Strong Enough for a Man, Made (as) a Woman: John McEnroe, Serena Williams and the Erasure of Black Female Excellence
âIf [Serena] played the menâs circuit, sheâd be, like, 700 in the world.â âJohn McEnroe âIf I were a man, then it wouldnât be any sort of question.â âSerena Williams John McEnroe cannot be serious. He couldnât seriously think that he could question or attempt to qualify the greatness of the goddess known as Serena…
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The Brother Also Rises: As âWhite Dave,â Noah Cooglerâs Got Next
Itâs a wet, frigid and very late night on an Atlanta music video set, and the crew is feeling it. Specifically, Hollywood wunderkind Ryan Coogler is concerned about the artist, instructing him to zip up his coat. But despite being one of the hottest writer-directors in the industry, Coogler is merely an observer tonight, having…
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An African in New York: Jazz Singer Somiâs Petite Afrique
âI donât take coffee; I take tea, my dear. Some extra rice, please, on the side…â My tea leaves steep as I wait for Somi in Silvana, a cafĂ© and live-music venue on 116th Street in Harlem, just off Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The singer-songwriterâwho has topped both jazz and world music charts whilst being compared…
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Everything We Need to Know About the 53 Percent, We Can Learn From Watching The Handmaidâs Tale
Why would they vote against their own self-interests? This was the question many of us askedâin anger, horror and complete confusionâafter the election of the least competent president in recorded history (thus far). How could they do it? The Rust Belt, âalt-rightâ and Republican die-hards were expected, but masses of college-educated, presumably politically aware women?…
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Donât Bet on Black: The Bachelorette May Disappoint You
Black America, we have our first Bachelorette! Sheâs gorgeous, highly accomplished, decidedly brown-skinned and likely pissing off a huge swath of Trump voters (woot, woot!). But spoiler alert (among several): If youâre expecting a season full of scenic montages glorifying black love, sheâs also likely to disappoint you. Manage your expectations accordingly. Full disclosure: Iâve…
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Do Heathens Go to Heaven?
I have a confession: Apparently, I need Jesusâor so Iâve been told. âHave you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior?â The grinning eyes of my cab driver inquire through the rearview mirror. I cringe. The gospel music Iâd been enjoying a moment before suddenly feels invasive. Iâm literally trapped in a conversation Iâm…
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No Romance Without ⊠Resistance?
âPeople have to start respecting the vagina. Until every man is fighting for our rights, we should consider stopping having sex.â âJanelle MonĂĄe text Come again? In a recent interview with Marie Claire, singer Janelle MonĂĄe discussed her ideas when it comes to participating in resistance. Iâm not going to lie: As a hot-blooded, fully…
