The Death Penalty

A black man, strapped to the electric chair, c1935.
I (J) am currently working on a capital murder appeal for a man incarcerated on Alabama’s death row. My client is a young, black man who has a history of mental illness and brutal, sadistic child abuse. I came into this case through the [...]

Poor Brandy

The family of the California woman killed last month in a freeway accident triggered by the singer Brandy has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the 28-year-old entertainer. California Highway Patrol officials have recommended the filing of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges against the R&B singer (full name: Brandy Norwood) in connection with the [...]

"The Negroes’ Relaxed Tongue: Language and The African Diaspora"–Guest Commentary From "KP"

Langston Hughes, pictured.
I was telling a friend about Cornel West’s “santa clausification” of Dr. MLK Jr. (which should be a topic of a future post) and she said West was her “main man”, meaning one of her favorite intellectuals of our time. She has a good close white riend of hers who doesn’t understand how [...]

Is There a Kosher Way to Criticize the Israel Lobby?

“Retired General Wesley Clark is, like me, concerned that the Bush administration is going to launch a war with Iran. Arianna Huffington spoke to him in early January and asked why he was so worried the administration was headed in this direction. According to Huffington’s January 4 recounting of Clark’s thoughts, he said this: “You [...]

Independent Women: Throw Your Hands Up At Me!

“Question: Tell me what you think about meI buy my own diamonds and I buy my own ringsOnly ring your cell-y when I’m feelin lonelyWhen it’s all over please get up and leaveQuestion: Tell me how you feel about thisTry to control me boy you get dismissedPay my own fun, oh and I pay my [...]

Please, Massah, Save Us!

Writer Kai Beasley takes issue with a new movie, Freedom Writers, in which Hillary Swank stars plays a white teacher saving poor black kids from their ignorance.
“It seems one of the most powerful notions in Hollywood is that black people can’t do anything for themselves. I’m sorry; I just have trouble understanding why nearly every [...]

Scenes From the Exhibitionists

The Wall Street Journal’s Kay Hymowitz takes on female stars like Britney Spears that are doing “too much.”
“Some of my best friends are women–heck, I am a woman–but I’ve come to the conclusion that we’ve seen too much of the fairer sex. For me, the final straw came last month when Britney Spears jauntily revealed [...]

Norbit & Black Actors in Drag

“WHAT’S SO funny about a fat black woman?
“And what’s so funny about a black man dressed as a fat black woman?
“A movie poster promoting Eddie Murphy’s new flick, “Norbit,” got me on this topic. On the poster, a nerdy guy, played by Murphy, is shown lying underneath a hugely overweight woman - who happens also [...]

Qoute of the Day

Put the world in your hands, not your heart.
Arabic saying.

Is "Thug" A Slur?

In discussion of Michael Vick’s latest trial by public opinion, a word keeps popping up to tarnish the image of Atlanta’s $130 million man.Thug.
member, has the use of the word “thug” about him, and other young black men, started to sound like a racial epithet?
“I’ve been astonished at the blanket bigotry in some cases,” said [...]