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Posted in: Opinions, Race and Identity, ReligionComments: One commentTags: African Americans, Christian, God, Homosexuality, NBA, Sports
Standing with Christ: Where's Grace in the Jason Collins and Chris Broussard Debate?
This week, much of the nation’s attention focused itself on Jason Collins making history by coming out while active in the NBA. Complicating Collins’ narrative is the fact that he’s Black and also Christian. As I read tweets, I marveled at how people could decide who is and who is not Christian. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Global Matters, Opinions, Pop CultureComments: 2 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: Education, Life, OpinionsComments: 2 commentsTags: Domestic Violence, Mark Jefferson, Sports
Bring the Pain: Rutgers Basketball and the Pandemic of Abuse towards Men
In a strange way, our culture actually invites abusers to “bring the pain” because to do the right thing is not profitable or expedient. The NCAA is a multi-billion dollar sharecropping conglomerate that makes the bulk of its money on the amateur backs of young men who have their earning rights abused and constricted at every turn. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Pop CultureComments: One commentTags: Mark Jefferson, Politics & Policies, Scandal
The Real 'Scandal' in Shonda Rhimes TV Hit is the Myth of Democracy
The real “scandal” that must not be ignored is that Shonda Rhimes' fictional political thriller highlights how little the American people are regarded by those they serve. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Race and Identity, ReligionComments: One commentTags: Bible, Black church, social justice, Trayvon Martin
Fighting an Invisible Foe: A Pastor's Reflections on the Trayvon Tragedy
Pastor Timothy Jones reflects on the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin a year later, using a theological lens to guide us on where ministers and people of faith go from here. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and Identity, ReligionComments: No commentsTags: Black church, Christianity, Jeff Johnson, MLK, Rahiel Tesfamariam, Videos
WATCH: Jeff Johnson, Elsa M. and Rahiel Tesfamariam Discuss Dr. King's Legacy
What made this 26 year old preacher the right choice to lead the boycott? What about Kings upbringing made him appeal to the masses of black people or was he un-relatable? How was Corretta a strength for Martin and did the public see it that way? Read morePosted in: Opinions, Religion, Youth & College EditionComments: No commentsTags: atheism, Christianity, God, Media, Rahiel Tesfamariam, Videos, Youth
WATCH: HuffPost Live Segment on 'Losing Our Religion'
Watch this HuffPost Live segment featuring Urban Cusp's Rahiel. Religion is on the decline in the US, especially among young Americans, a third of whom belong to no religion. What cultural changes prompted this collective disbelief? Read morePosted in: Opinions, Race and Identity, Youth & College EditionComments: No commentsTags: change, naacp, social justice, Trayvon Martin, Youth
Has Change.org Made the NAACP Irrelevant?
Stephen A. Green, a student at Morehouse College, argues that Change.org has usurped the NAACP as the primary vehicle to express social injustice. In less than two years, Change.org has over 20 million users in 196 countries. Read morePosted in: Faith, Opinions, ReligionComments: 3 commentsTags: Black church, Race & Identity, Timothy Jones
Two Major Priorities for the Black Church in 2013
Inspired by a remembrance of Dr. King’s work, Timothy Jones sets priorities for his beloved Black Church, laying out two top priorities for 2013. Read morePosted in: Education, Opinions, Race and IdentityComments: 8 commentsTags: Barack Obama, College, Jamall Calloway, Race & Identity
The Black College is Dead
The preference for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) seems to be waning. HBCUs were once the home of our educational investments, but are now likened to the land of Reconstruction Era relics. Read moreThe B-Word: A Breakdown of a Word That Breaks Down
David Leonard discuses the potency of the word b*tch and gives insight into its sexist implications, arguing it is harmful to humans irrespective of how the word is used and to whom it is used. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: One commentTags: Barack Obama, Election 2012
Now What? Election Reflections from Urban Cusp Writers
History was made once again. Now what? Where do we go from here? Urban Cusp writers reflect on Barack Obama's re-election and what it means for the church, community groups, civic leaders and our nation as a whole. 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: Opinions, Pop Culture, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Christianity, Hip-Hop, Mark Jefferson
New God Flow: Where Biggie, MLK and Rodney King’s Dreams Collide
How do we reconcile our aspirations of material success (Biggie’s dream), pushing the world around us into living more righteously (Dr. King's dream), and to find peace in or reconstruct the toxic environment that seeks our violent destruction (Rodney King's dream)? Read morePosted in: Opinions, Race and Identity, ReligionComments: 2 commentsTags: Christianity, Jamall Calloway
How Many Transgenders Have to Die Before the Black Church Gets Involved?
Jamall Calloway sheds light on the often overlooked injustices and brutal violence the transgender community faces on a daily basis. He admonishes the Black Church to reflect the ministry of Christ by standing up to protect the rights of and prevent violence against the transgender community. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Pop Culture, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Hip-Hop, Lupe Fiasco, Toby D. Sanders
Flipping the Script: Toby D. Sanders on 'Radical Melioration'
The practice of rhetorical script-flipping is a powerful tool. Some might even say it is a vital form of mythopoesis, that is, restructuring reality through language. It is profoundly under-examined intellectually and most often rather shallowly discussed as an aspect of culture-making or pop commentary. Read morePosted in: Life, Opinions, Race and IdentityComments: 9 commentsTags: Families, G. Ann Wilkerson, Interracial, Race & Identity, Relationships, Women
Racial Loyalty and Romance: Why Do We Limit Ourselves to Black Men?
Why do Black women feel so loyal to Black men? Where does this sense of “ownership” over them come from and why don’t they appear to have the same feelings toward us? Read morePosted in: Opinions, Pop Culture, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Chief Keef, Hip-Hop, Julius Bailey, Lupe Fiasco, Pop Culture
Let's Keep Lupe Fiasco's Music Alive and Retire Chief-Keef-Like Artistry
What Chief Keef posits in his “art” is tantamount to an evisceration of human care. And as Lupe weeps at the sight of “ghosts” from his past, we get haunting reminders of art’s inability to move beyond stereotypical imitation. Meanwhile, real life carnage transforms streets into graveyards. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: One commentTags: Election 2012, Politics & Policies, Wilmer Leon
Voter ID Laws and the American Coup d'état
A look into how ultraconservatives are using Voter ID laws to engage in a bloodless coup d'état against America’s first African American democratically elected president. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Careers, Election 2012, Keith Beasley, Mitt Romney, Politics & Policies
