In Beyoncé's 'Formation,' A Glorification Of 'Bama' Blackness
Beyoncé's latest song is for the black Southern woman, says National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, who's from Mississippi. It's a message she needed to hear.
Race
Claiming Emotional Trauma, Chicago Officer Countersues Victim's Estate
The white Chicago police officer who shot and killed a black college student wielding a bat says the incident in which he also accidentally shot and killed a neighbor has caused him emotional trauma.
First Black NASA Administrator Charles Bolden 'Pleaded' To Get Into Naval Academy
Bolden grew up in segregated South Carolina. One of his state senators, Strom Thurman, blocked his efforts to get to the Naval Academy, but a Hail-Mary letter to Lyndon Johnson helped him get there.
Not Ready To Stop Obsessing Over Beyoncé And 'Formation'? We Got You
So you've watched the music video, and the halftime show, eleventy million times. Now, let these smart takes help you parse all the feels.
Beyonce's 'Formation' Is A Visual Anthem
Filmmaker and writer dream hampton says that Beyonce's provocative new video is "about a black future [where] we are imagining ourselves having power and magic."
Cultural Appropriation In Pop Music — When Are Artists In The Wrong?
When Coldplay and Beyoncé released the music video for their new song, they were immediately accused of cultural appropriation. What does that mean? And how pervasive is it in the music industry?
Now Counted By Their Country, Afro-Mexicans Grab Unprecedented Spotlight
For the first time its history, Mexico announced it would recognize people of African descent on its official census. What does it mean for Afro-Mexicans themselves — and why has it taken so long?
Unemployment May Be Dropping, But It's Still Twice As High For Blacks
The jobless rate fell is at an eight-year low, the government reported today. But for blacks, the rate is still 8.8 percent — a bit lower than worst unemployment whites experienced in the recession.
Roundup: Here's What People Are Saying About Barbie's Diversity Makeover
Mattel is rethinking how the Barbie brand could represent women of all colors, shapes and sizes. Some are buying it. Others, not so much.
Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera Has Charlotte's Latino Community Fired Up
Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera is the second Latino head coach in Super Bowl history. And Charlotte's Latino community is talking about football like never before.