The Grio

James Gandolfini, star of ‘The Sopranos’,...: James Gandolfini, star of ‘The Sopranos’, dead at 51 of apparent heart attack
NBC NEWS - James Gandolfini, who rose to fame as mob boss Tony Soprano on the hit HBO drama 'The Sopranos,' has died of a possible heart attack, the network has confirmed to NBC News. He was 51...
On Frederick Douglass: No progress without...: On Frederick Douglass: No progress without struggle
ESSAY - The unveiling of the Frederick Douglass statue in Emancipation Hall commemorates how far we have come as a nation...
Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the end of...: Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the end of slavery
theGRIO REPORT - Today marks Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the emancipation of African-Americans from slavery, a day that is widely celebrated in broad pockets of the American south. It is a time of community gatherings...
Kenyatta Jones defends ‘House of Curves’ TV...: Kenyatta Jones defends ‘House of Curves’ TV show: ‘I’m not promoting obesity’
theGRIO VIDEO - 'House of Curves' star Kenyatta Jones defends her plus size fashion line during an interview with theGrio...
Zimmerman jurors asked about neighborhood watch: Zimmerman jurors asked about neighborhood watch
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - Attorneys quizzed a whittled-down group of prospective jurors Wednesday in the Trayvon Martin case, asking if any were neighborhood watch volunteers like the teen's shooter and reminding them the trial would be different from what they've seen on shows like 'CSI'...
Blogging While Brown conference, in NYC for the...: Blogging While Brown conference, in NYC for the first time, bridges the color barrier for blacks in tech
Developed by Gina McCauley, the firebrand mind behind the blog What About Our Daughters, Blogging While Brown is now the premiere annual event for bloggers of color to connect, promote their brands, and get top-tier advice from thought leaders in the technology sector.

Black Enterprise

Fredrick Douglass Statue Erected on Capitol Hill: Fredrick Douglass Statue Erected on Capitol Hill
7-foot bronze statue of black abolitionist erected in Emancipation Hall
Mistrial Declared for Detroit Cop Who Killed 7...: Mistrial Declared for Detroit Cop Who Killed 7 Year Old Girl
Jury could not agree on manslaughter charges in Detroit cop trial
Paula Deen Admits to Using ‘N-Word’, Wanted...: Paula Deen Admits to Using ‘N-Word’, Wanted Blacks to Dress as Slaves at Wedding
Paula Deen is known for her southern cooking and big personality. A personality that may…
George Zimmerman Jury Selection Enters Next Phase: George Zimmerman Jury Selection Enters Next Phase
Twenty-seven of the 40 potential jurors are white, seven are black, three are mixed race…
Dating Sites Are in ‘Singles’ Game Night...: Dating Sites Are in ‘Singles’ Game Night Business
About half of singles who attended website's events said they met someone they would like…
NY Teacher Raises $14K to Take Underprivileged...: NY Teacher Raises $14K to Take Underprivileged Kids to ‘American Girl’
Brooklyn teacher gives his young black girls a lesson about their worth

The Root

Should Fewer Students Go to College?

Should Fewer Students Go to College?

(The Root) -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is clearly not afraid to court controversy. He has fought for bans on smoking and large sodas, despite his efforts sparking criticism and ridicule. The mayor has found himself provoking critics again with his comments earlier this month about which students should attend college.

Read full article...

My Man Is Looking Through My Phone

My Man Is Looking Through My Phone

(The Root) --

"My ex used to go through my phone when I would leave the room, and it would piss me off. He never found anything because I was being faithful to him. I decided to put a lock on my phone because I felt disrespected, now he's pissed. What do I do now?" --L.A.

If you've ever read anything I've written on cheating and snooping, then you know my position: This is ludicrous. Snooping is often done under the guise of getting necessary information. What it really is a lack of trust and a control issue.

In your letter, it's not clear whether you told your mate, "Enough is enough!" when it comes to going though your phone. If you haven't, putting a lock on your phone is a passive-aggressive way of saying, "This is not OK," and to someone who already has trust issues, the pattern change of you locking your phone is just fueling the situation.

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Quote of the Day: James Baldwin on Children

Quote of the Day: James Baldwin on Children

Serena Williams: Built Like a Monster Truck?

According to an article in the Huffington Post, a Rolling Stone magazine cover story on Serena Williams compares her figure to that of a monster truck. "Sharapova is tall, white and blond, and, because of that, makes more money in endorsements than Serena, who is black, beautiful and built like one of those monster trucks that crushes Volkswagens at sports arenas ... "

A little objectifying, no? Writer Julee Wilson didn't seem too pleased.

We're sure the magazine was trying to be complimentary to the 31-year-old's superior athleticism but it borders on rude, dehumanizing and insensitive.

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Frederick Douglass Statue Unveiled in US Capitol

Frederick Douglass Statue Unveiled in US Capitol

Frederick Douglass will be officially remembered on Capitol Hill, the Associated Press reports.

On Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner led the unveiling ceremony of a 7-foot bronze statue of the former slave in the U.S. Capitol's Emancipation Hall. Steve Weitzman, a Maryland artist, created the statue, which portrays Douglass in his 50s.

The statue joins sculpted tributes to fellow black Americans Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Sojourner Truth on permanent display in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall.

Douglass was born a slave in 1818 in Talbot County, Md. He advised President Abraham Lincoln and was a voice for women's rights as well as those of black Americans.

Boehner is calling the statue "a fitting tribute to one of the greatest Americans and voices for freedom who ever lived."

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Ode to the Black Tiger Mother

Ode to the Black Tiger Mother

The Root Contributing Editor Farai Chideya, in a piece for the Huffington Post, calls single black mothers Tiger Moms and applauds them for overcoming challenges to raise strong black men and women .

Read full article...

Black Voices (Huffington Post)

Law Protecting Against Racial Bias Repealed By...: Law Protecting Against Racial Bias Repealed By GOP Lawmakers
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina has repealed a landmark law that had allowed convicted murderers to have their sentences reduced to life in prison if...
Republican Official Targets GOP Candidate In...: Republican Official Targets GOP Candidate In Racially Charged Rant
An Illinois Republican Party chairman apologized Wednesday after unleashing a racially charged attack on a black female congressional candidate. In an email sent to Doug...
Arianna Huffington: The Most Important Movie of...: Arianna Huffington: The Most Important Movie of the Summer (Hint: It's Not Man of Steel)
The biggest movie of the summer isn't Man of Steel, or The Lone Ranger, or Fast & Furious 6. It's a new documentary called How to Make Money Selling Drugs, and it exposes the hypocrisy, insanity, and destructiveness of America's drug war. Now, when I say "biggest," I'm not talking about budget size or box office receipts -- I'm talking impact and importance. Of course, the problem with saying a movie is "important" is that it can leave the impression that it isn't entertaining. That's certainly not the case with this film. But the reason the film truly feels like a blockbuster is that you can't leave the theater without being shocked and outraged by what you've seen. Even if you go in feeling like you're well-versed in the insanity of the drug war, you'll walk out stunned -- by the cowardice and hypocrisy of our elected leaders, and by the staggering consequences in lives and money.
Ryan Mack: Remembering Medgar Evers: A Lesson of...: Ryan Mack: Remembering Medgar Evers: A Lesson of Civic Engagement
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of his death, when I think about the lessons of Medgar Evers the one word that comes to mind is "action." This man didn't live his life complaining about how bad things were as much as he spent his life taking tangible actions to fix the oppressive conditions of his community.
HIV Awareness Billboard Criticized For Accepting...: HIV Awareness Billboard Criticized For Accepting Gay Men
A billboard advocating awareness of AIDS and encouraging HIV testing is drawing criticism in Texas by some people who complain the ad promotes and accepts...
Metabolic Syndrome Has Declined, Some Risks...: Metabolic Syndrome Has Declined, Some Risks Persist
Compared to a decade ago, fewer Americans have a cluster of risk factors that together can signal heart troubles and diabetes down the line,...

BET

NFL: Don't Blame Beyoncé for Blackout: NFL: Don't Blame Beyoncé for Blackout

The league searches for cause of Super Bowl power outage.
Lawyers in Trayvon Case Spar Over Trial Date: Lawyers in Trayvon Case Spar Over Trial Date

Zimmerman's lawyers are seeking a delay in the trial.
Justin Timberlake Debuts New Music and Brings Out...: Justin Timberlake Debuts New Music and Brings Out Jay-Z

JT performs live for the first time in five years.
Obama Pushes Gun Control Message: Obama Pushes Gun Control Message

The president wants to prevent another Newtown.
Wiz Khalifa Releases “Started From the...: Wiz Khalifa Releases “Started From the Bottom” Remix

Wiz adds a verse to Drake’s latest anthem.
Blacks on the Brink of Greatness: Blacks on the Brink of Greatness

BET.com recognizes young, talented African-Americans.