I was delighted by the discussion my last blog post- “To All Afraid of the ‘Ghetto’”- sparked both online and on the University of Chicago campus. Many of my classmates approached me about the blog and gave even more personal accounts on comments the pervade our campus from our administration, the University of Chicago […]
This past week I became the facebook user that monotonously began searching through the lives, thoughts, and ideas of my fb friends through the convenience of my fb wall. I came upon a status update from a person that will remain nameless, that said “I make HIV look soo good.” A few thoughts cross my […]
The Open Society Foundations has announced an award of $1.2 million to the 2013 cohort of Soros Justice Fellows. The fellows, a mix of emerging and established leaders, include investigative journalists, lawyers, grassroots organizers, policy advocates, and scholars.
Two hundred Milwaukee fast food workers are set to go on strike, demanding a pay increase to $15/hr and the right to unionize.
Privilege is the reality of having one less thing to think about. When one is privileged they have the luxury of not having to be conscious about their every day actions. We all have various levels of privilege, some more than others. But I often, even as a young black gay male that deals with […]
Lauryn Hill has posted a letter on her Tumblr, thanking “family, friends, business associates, and fans who have called, emailed, sent texts, and posted messages of concern, encouragement, and support.”
I fear I’m simply going to repeat here what someone else has already said. But sometimes you have to say it, anyway. Last week, the FBI placed Assata Shakur on its most wanted terrorist list. She’s the first woman to be added to the document, but this clearly isn’t some sort of advancement for women, […]
It is my earnest hope that our black leaders would pause in their pursuit of personal ambition and legacy to stop and look into the eyes of the child of potential that stands before them. A child that – regardless of circumstance and waywardness – can become an agent of change that can dramatically impact the world in which we live.
Boots Riley from the Coup, Jasiri X, and Mark Gonzales at the Run It Back: Remembering and Reimagining Hip-Hop as Social Activism panel in San Francisco (Photo by Open Line Media) Last week we celebrated the birthdays of 2 of Hip-Hop’s founding fathers and icons, DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa. This got me reflecting on the origins […]
Gun violence in Chicago left 3 dead and 13 wounded over the weekend. As the summer approaches, the violence will likely increase. We must find a way to stem the tide of violence in Chicago.
A recent editorial asks the question, “Where Are Ordinary Black Youth in Popular Culture?” Are the stories of black youth that are “neither marginalized or at the proverbial mountaintop” invisible to mainstream America?
A group of rape survivors are demanding that Reebok drop its endorsement deal with Rick Ross, asserting that the company is essentially condoning rape by maintaining their partnership with him.
