I’ve long suspected that part of the reason that aspirational Negroes rail against ghetto folks is actually to reify that stereotype, and consequently give relatively banal middle class lifestyle choices the weight of much-needed social uplift. (It’s why you see portrayals in the media of professional black folks with traditional nuclear families reflexively celebrated as Read More
During my eighth grade school year, I fancied myself a militant. This was my third year as a student at Deer Park Middle School, which I (perhaps inaccurately) remember as about 40% Jewish, 50% Black, and 10% White and “Other” (shout-out to Jason Chang!). These were my first years dealing with significant racial difference. Until Read More
“Breathe,” Derek Charles says, as he vigorously shakes the leggy blonde psychotic in his hotel bed. “Bitch, breathe!” And with this line, another awesomely campy stalker flick is born. Trust me. You already know the plot of the newest Beyonce vehicle, Obsessed: naive married corporate exec (Elba) runs afoul of the wrong temp. You’ve seen Read More
quadmoniker: My copy of The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York has had a prominent and accusatory place on three different bookshelves in three different apartments for at least five years now. I was supposed to read it before I started graduate school. I did not. It’s more than 1,200 pages Read More
A teachable moment, via SEK.
Unrelated: I want that t-shirt.
This commercial is really about how The Black Man tries to defend his woman’s honor, yet she has no problem flaunting her exposed beauty, thereby nullifying his role as Protector. This has been An Overly Close Reading.
Seven people used it to describe First Lady Michelle Obama in Pew’s Obama at 100 Days poll. From the poll: Many of the words people use to describe Michelle Obama are similar to peoples’ early impressions of Laura Bush. In fact, three words, Classy, Nice, and Intelligent are among the top four one-word descriptions for Read More
Seven people used it to describe First Lady Michelle Obama in Pew’s Obama at 100 Days poll. From the poll: Many of the words people use to describe Michelle Obama are similar to peoples’ early impressions of Laura Bush. In fact, three words, Classy, Nice, and Intelligent are among the top four one-word descriptions for Read More
