For a show about a group of stuffy, aristocratic Brits, Masterpiece Classic’s Downtown Abbey has become an unconventional pop culture sensation over the past few years. Downton is half drama, half history lesson, profiling a British family’s evolution in the 1910s and 1920s—becoming one of the most popular period pieces in recent memory. Viewers have watched the aristocratic Crawleys and their... Read more
‘Culture’ Archive
Downton Abbey, The Period Piece & the Question of Race
Tags: Boardwalk Empire, Django Unchained, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey black character season 4, Downton Abbey diversity, Mad Men, The Tudors
Rapper Authenticity or Kardashian Brand: The Dilemma of Kanye West
Tags: Kanye West, Kanye West rant, Kim Kanye, Kim Kardashian, Kimye baby, Kris Jenner
A few weeks ago, Kanye West caused a stir abroad, ranting against commercialism and the music industry on multiple European tour dates. The rapper began his rant bashing musicians who hype corporate products. Please? Me, Kanye West? I swear I’m a nice n—a now. I swear I’ll put the pink polo back on. I swear to you. Please? Just for three... Read more
Is Racial Profiling Hazardous to Your Health? One Study Says, “YES!”
Tags: Arizona immigration law, Arizona SB 1070, Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Racial Profiling, Racism
In the United States (U.S.) there are so many things that are detrimental to our health. Artificial sweeteners, char-grilled meat, smog and more are all bad for our health. The New York City government just implemented a ban on all sodas over 16 oz. The logic is since soda contains a high amount of sugar and other additives that are... Read more
Is Feminist A Bad Word: How Feminism Isn’t Just About Equal Rights
Tags: Equal Rights, Equality, Feminism, Feminist, Gender Inequalities, woman, women, Women Issues
Is ‘feminist’ a bad word? While it may not be an inherently bad word, the concepts it seems to evoke when used are negative enough that many women are shying away from labeling themselves as such. In an article over at Jezebel, writer Tracey Moore breaks down how the idea of feminism may be close to being obsolete in our... Read more
President Obama Signs Violence Against Women Act
Tags: President Obama, Sexual Assault, Violence Against Women 2013, Violence Against Women Act, Women Issues
AtlantaBlackStar – The Violence Against Women Act that President Obama proudly signed today contains significant new protections for women, and expands to include gays and lesbians and immigrants. The expanded protections caused Republicans to fight against the act over the last year and a half. But in the current political climate, with a popular president winning the last election partly due... Read more
Is Fat-Shaming Really About Weight? Or Gender?
Tags: Adele, beauty double standards, fat shaming, Fat-shaming of Adele, Joan Rivers, Jonah Hill, Melissa McCarthy, Women Issues
Recently the debate over fat shaming has reached new heights as all across America people are discussing whether or not it is ethical to use fat shaming to discourage people from living an unhealthy lifestyle. What people haven’t given much thought to however is why most of the fat shaming is geared towards women rather than men? It used to be... Read more
Kendrick Lamar Tackles Colorism in ‘Poetic Justice’ Video
Tags: Colorism, Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick Lamar on colorism, light skin vs dark skin, Poetic Justice, Skin Color, social issues, stereotypes
Kendrick Lamar is one of the rap game’s latest sensations, and he’s already using his fame and influence to tackle a major issue – colorism. Today’s hip hop industry is all about the age old debate of light skin vs. dark skin and Kendrick Lamar is sick of it. Everywhere you look, the hottest music videos always have a bad habit of... Read more
Women’s History Month: The Brave, Beautiful & Black
Tags: African American women, Black History Month, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Race Issues, richest black women in the world, Women's history month
It seems ever so fitting that women’s history month is celebrated immediately after black history month considering the fact that black women have been one of the most oppressed demographics in history. History reveals to us that even when America was founded white males were the only people who were truly free with all of their natural born rights. Women weren’t allowed... Read more
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