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Politics & Policies
Posted 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, 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
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: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Pop CultureComments: No commentsTags: Election 2012, Hip-Hop, Mitt Romney, Politics & Policies
How Rick Ross Wrote the Blueprint for Mitt Romney’s Convention [VIDEO]
Jay Smooth on how the Maybach Music boss wrote the blueprint for Mitt Romney’s convention. 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: Health, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Health, Politics & Policies, Wilmer Leon
Chief Justice Roberts: The Jury is Still Out
Liberals and pro ACA advocates are praising Roberts for saying health care reform and possibly the 2012 election for President Obama. But let's not be quick to call him "the new liberal heartthrob.” The jury is still out. Read morePosted in: Education, Life.Style, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Education, Politics & Policies
Barack Obama Joins Jimmy Fallon and The Roots to 'Slow Jam The News' [VIDEO]
In his latest bid to win over the youth vote, the commander-in-chief dropped by "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday night and joined the estimable list of guests who have slow jammed the news on the show. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Elections 2012, Politics & Policies, Wilmer Leon
Voter Suppression in 2012: America's Past Is This Election Year's Prologue
Voter suppression is an ugly part of America’s past that has once again become its present. As a result of Republican’s taking control of statehouses after the 2010 mid-term elections, a number of states have enacted laws imposing new restrictions for voter ID, voter registration, and early voting. Read morePosted in: Global Matters, Life.Style, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Africa, Politics & Policies, Race & Identity
Invisible Children Releases KONY 2012 Sequel: 'Beyond Famous' [VIDEO]
Invisible Children has debuted Part II to Kony 2012 called "Beyond Famous," which seeks to give greater detail, respond to viral video's backlash and remind viewers about the April 20th "Cover the Night" movement. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: David Leonard, Election 2012, Politics & Policies
Decoding the Racial Rhetoric of GOP Candidates
Although often transparent and clear as night and day, much of the arguments and frames are articulated through racial codes. Affording GOP candidates a certain level of deniability, it is therefore crucial to understand the power and prevalence of racial rhetorics. 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: Opinions, Politics & Policies, ReligionComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Politics & Policies, Wilmer Leon
Rick Santorum Loses Michigan - Can the Madness End Now?
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney defeated Rick Santorum in Michigan. This could be the beginning of the end for yet another one of Romney's challengers - one who pushes extreme religious conservatism. Read morePosted in: Global Matters, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Barack Obama, Politics & Policies, Wilmer Leon
Will Israel Attack Iran or the White House?
After an op-ed entitled "Israel Preparing to Attack Iran?" first appeared in The Washington Post, other newspapers have picked up on this opinion and repeated it as though it is fact. Most opinion pieces fail to speak about the matter within a larger, critical context. 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, Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: One commentTags: Election 2012, Hip-Hop, Politics & Policies
Today at 3PM: Talib Kweli and Bakari Kitwana on Hip-Hop Activism [Live Stream]
Talib Kweli headlines Rap Sessions on Friday, Feb 17th, 3:00 pm EST at Jackson State University. "Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama/Tea Party Era" will be a community dialogue on the ways race and gender discussions in national culture have evolved since the 2008 Election. Moderated by Bakari Kitwana. Read morePosted in: Health, Interviews, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: No commentsTags: Health, Politics & Policies, Rahiel Tesfamariam
Alondra Nelson on the Panthers, Medical Discrimination and Health Care
Urban Cusp recently interviewed Alondra Nelson to discuss her new book Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight against Medical Discrimination. Read what she had to say about their strategies, scientific racism, COINTELPRO and contemporary health care issues. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Human Rights, James Peterson, Politics & Policies
A Moment with Rev. Jesse Jackson on the Occasion of his 70th Birthday
Rev. Marcia Dyson and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson recently hosted a commemoration of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s extraordinary work as an activist and a celebration of his 70th birthday at Georgetown University. Read James Braxton Peterson's moving reflection of that historic occasion. Read morePosted in: Class & Economy, Opinions, Politics & PoliciesComments: 3 commentsTags: Economic Class, Economy, Keith Beasley, OWS, Politics & Policies
Occupy Wall Street Is Reminding America of 'Justice for All'
A commitment to Occupy Wall Street is not a gratuitous acceptance of its goals and tactics but of its desire for justice that considers the interests of the many and not just the few. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: No commentsTags: Election 2012, Politics & Policies, Wilmer Leon
Herman Cain’s Problem Is Herman Cain
At the end of the day, whether the issue is sexual harassment, who developed his 9-9-9 Plan, or his limited understanding of foreign policy, the source of Herman Cain’s problems is his inability to command the facts. Read morePosted in: Opinions, Politics & Policies, Race and IdentityComments: 6 commentsTags: Election 2012, Keith Beasley, Politics & Policies, Race & Identity
