562 Search results for "blackness"

Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, educator and activist. Her finest moment might be “Ego-Trippin’,” a funny and empowering ode to blackness that read and flows like a funkier “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Check it out at BlackYouthProject.com / @BlackYouthProj

                  While it should be commonplace to study, promote, and protect Black History each and every day of the year, I still find it rewarding to dig into our history during the month of February to highlight those of our predecessors, especially the lesser know ones, to […]

Late last week I caught a little flack for hatin’ on Obama’s incredibly brief rendition of the Rev. Al Green’s classic, “Let’s Stay Together.” I’m sure you’ve seen the clip. If not, here: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6uHR90Sq6k   I hear he gave a speech after hitting the falsetto. Of course, that’s not the impression one would get. Those […]

A few weeks ago, writer slash (cultural) critic slash Twitter all-star, Toure published a piece in the The New York Times about the allegedly recent flurry of white women rappers. From rehashing black respectability in an article about Michael Vick, to considering the black middle class in a discussion of the Obamas’ vacationing tendencies, Toure is no stranger […]

*Spoiler Alert* On Friday, Dee Rees’ much lauded independent film, Pariah will expand its release from four theaters to eleven, increasing the opportunity for many to view this incredibly important Focus Features release. Rees’ debut work has deservedly generated a deluge of critical praise, and should at the very least garner a few nominations come award […]

Last week I made the decision not to mention Troy Davis in my blog. This week, however, I feel the need to make a desultory remark or two. So random are my words that I am thinking about the law and morality. A bad move, I know. But I can’t help it: Despite my overall […]

Afternoon News Round-UP September 14, 2011 Toure’s latest book “Who’s Afraid Of Post-Blackness?” is starting a helluva lot of controversy, and I can’t wait to read it. The first chapter is called “The Most Racist Thing That Ever Happened To Me,” and it’s available at TheAltantic.com right now. Do yourself a favor and check it […]

There’s nothing cooler than a snap-back wearing sneaker pimp (Black hipsters) and anyone that wants to keep up with the cool will need to add a camera around their neck. Remember how Chris Brown’s video for “Beautiful People” made you want to create a cinematic collage of your greatest nights while you imagined that your […]

When I’m asked “What are you?” a question which my slight racial ambiguity warrants on almost a daily basis, I say black. So I check black on my college app. Then sometimes (most times actually), the question is followed by “Yeah, but what else?” and sometimes “She’s Cuban!” “She’s Puerto Rican.” “She’s Italian.” from eavesdroppers. […]

His work spoke truth to a racist, capitalistic power structure, while at the same time attempting to usurp and dominate that structure with its own values and tools.That is why Tupac’s music was so powerful and dangerous. There will never be another like him.

I swear I’ll stop writing about Jalen Rose and The Fab Five after this week.  I promise.  I did, however, want to beat this dead horse one more good time take a moment to make a request of my (s)kinfolk. What follows is a clip of ESPN’s Chris Broussard discussing the Jalen Rose/Grant Hill issue […]

If last week’s rather desultory and occasionally poorly rendered post on The Fab Five was any indication, my love for Jalen Rose and the rest of the Fab Five is immense and endures even today.  I appreciate many of the things they symbolized.  Just like back in ’91, many do not hold this cohort of […]