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Class & Economy
Posted in: Class & Economy, Life, Life.Style, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Families, Fatherhood, Prison
VIDEO: Former Sing Sing Inmate Seeks to Reconnect Ex-Felons with Their Families
Julio Medina wasn't known for being the All-American family man. He was a convicted drug lord, serving out a sentence in prison. But now, he's a different man. A dad. And that changed everything. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Global Matters, Opinions, Pop CultureComments: 3 commentsTags: Beyonce, Cuba, Hip-Hop, Jay-Z
Must Read: An 'Open Letter' to Jay-Z from Cuban '21 Jump Street' Director
Jay-Z responded to critics of his Cuba trip with a song called "Open Letter" and now "21 Jump Street" director Phil Lord has responded with an open letter of his own, blasting the rapper. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Politics & Policies, ReligionComments: No commentsTags: Devotional, Politics and Policies, Stephanie Crumpton
40 Days and Nights: What Sequestration Teaches Us About Tying God’s Hands
Urban Cusp features Dr. Stephanie M. Crumpton as the guest contributor on "40 Days and Nights,” a weekly series exploring the interconnection between the spiritual, personal, and social dimensions of daily life for Lent. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Economy, Election 2012, Mitt Romney
Too Close for Comfort: Obama, Romney and the Battle for Undecided Voters
Tuesday night’s debate was less about shoring up each candidate’s base of support and more about securing swing votes or the allegiance of undecided voters. I’m not so sure either candidate won the majority of them over. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Careers, Election 2012, Keith Beasley, Mitt Romney, Politics & Policies
Romney, Ryan and the Conflict of Ambition Over Conviction
Keith Beasley on the portrait of ambition and careerism captured by Romney and Ryan. He explains how our country's culture of careerism often trumps personal convictions. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Michelle Obama
WATCH: Michelle Obama's 2012 DNC Speech [FULL VIDEO]
Michelle Obama delivered a passionate and personal speech at the Democratic National Convention on September 4th, moving the crowd with stories of hardship and triumph that described the Obamas' journey to the White House and the experiences that inform the President's policies. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Global Matters, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: One commentTags: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Mitt Romney, Wilmer Leon
Romney and the RNC: Liars Don’t Lead - They Mislead
The difference between legitimate debate and what was presented at the Republican convention is the utter lack of factual content by Mitt Romney and other Republican speakers. They did not make misstatements, exaggerations, mistakes or errors. They lied. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Economic Class, Melissa Harris-Perry, Race & Identity
On Poverty: Melissa Harris-Perry's Moment of 'Eloquent Rage' [VIDEO]
MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry later apologized for a passionate outburst in response to a panelist who spoke of risks taken by enterprise leaders, saying nothing is riskier than being poor in America. The discussion centered on Obama's "you didn't build that" speech. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Politics & Policies
Dear Obama and Romney: We Want Policy and Not Personal Attacks
Professor Wilmer Leon explains how the 2012 political debates have been focused more on personal political contending rather than addressing issues that are important to Americans. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Race and IdentityComments: 4 commentsTags: Criminal Justice, David Leonard, Race & Identity
White Privilege, Wealth and the U.S. Criminal Justice System
David Leonard explores how white privilege and affluence factor into the criminal justice process by sharing his father's experience in the system. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: 2 commentsTags: Barack Obama, Keith Beasley
Cory Booker and an Unsettling Truth about Politicians
Mayor Booker’s attempt to portray himself as above the fray trying to elevate the conversation to a debate of big ideas that tackle and resolve America’s long term systemic challenges was perceived as a break from the President. Is that a fair analysis? Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Pop Culture, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Economic Class, Hip-Hop, Trayvon Martin
WATCH: David Banner's Passionate Remarks on Trayvon Martin [VIDEO]
Interviewed by Black Enterprise, artist/producer David Banner shares passionate remarks on the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman and how this incident fits into the scope of systematic racism in America. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Race and IdentityComments: 9 commentsTags: Mark Jefferson, Race & Identity, Trayvon Martin, Troy Davis
Strange Fruit: Black Men Wanted Dead [and] Alive in America #Trayvon #Troy
I am an African American man living in America. My very presence makes me public enemy and public curiosity number one. Unlike Bon Jovi, who frames his life in a wanted dead OR alive understanding, I contend that African American men are wanted dead AND alive. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Race and Identity, Youth & College EditionComments: One commentTags: Candice Benbow, Race & Identity, Trayvon Martin, Youth
Do Something to Save Our Children: A War Cry for Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin’s screams and pleas for his life should become our war cry. They should anger us into unwavering action. His last breath should infuse us with fresh wind to do whatever it takes to ensure that the Trayvons in our communities can grow up and live out their dreams. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Global Matters, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: 12 commentsTags: Africa, Politics & Policies, Race & Identity, Solome Lemma
You Don't Have My Vote: On Invisible Children's #Kony2012
KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous. I appreciate the organization’s commitment to the issue and can see its good intent, but I strongly question the group’s approach, strategy, and work. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Life, Pop Culture, QOTDComments: 7 commentsTags: Hip-Hop, Pop Culture, QOTD
QOTD: Is It True That 'Swag Is for Boys' and 'Class Is for Men'?
This image that juxtaposes images of men in "urban gear" with men in corporate/Euro-centric attire has been circulating widely via social media. Do you agree that "swag is for boys" and "class is for men"? Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Life, Life.Style, Pop CultureComments: 2 commentsTags: Economic Class, Hip-Hop, Jay-Z, Videos
Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Challenges the Throne with ‘Ni##as In Poorest’ [VIDEO]
On February 21st, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) released "Ni##as In Poorest," a remix to Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Ni##as in Paris," in commemoration of the 47th anniversary of Malcolm X's death. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Hip-Hop, Politics & Policies
Tonight at 8pm ET: Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama / Tea Party Era [Live Stream]
Rap Sessions: Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama / Tea Party Era will explore ways that the election of Barack Obama, the emergence of the Tea Party, and the shifting political landscape have both strengthened and diminished hip-hop’s effectiveness at mobilizing young people. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Life, Life.Style, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: BHM 2012, Race & Identity, Videos
Black History Is Revolutionary: The Late Huey P. Newton
Originally born in a small town in Louisiana and later moving with his family to Oakland, California as an infant, Huey Percy Newton (February 17, 1942 – August 22, 1989) became the co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for over 2 decades. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: One commentTags: Election 2012, Hip-Hop, Politics & Policies
