His first solo studio album in eleven years, Killer Mike’s MICHAEL is the Atlanta rapper’s most personal endeavor to date. The fourteen-track record is an ode to both nativity and naiveté, its narrative being just as personal to him as it is to all those experienced in underprivileged Black life. From front to back, nothing […]
Hood and Holy: A Review of Killer Mike’s “MICHAEL” Read More »
A South Carolina high school teacher made headlines last Wednesday for a controversial choice of disciplinary action. On Tuesday, his school district took a vote on whether he would face disciplinary action. Under South Carolina Board of Education regulations, public school teachers facing disciplinary action or termination maintain the right to appeal the reversal of
Activism in the twenty-first century is unlike the activism of any previous era. Its most unique characteristic, of course, is the use of technology and social media to accomplish its goals. Surely, the Bolsheviks and Jacobins would’ve liked to have Instagram Live, but alas, thanks to social media, Internet search engines, and text messaging, the
Looking out like a sentinel over the interior of Brightwood Park’s HR Records is a complex and imposing mammoth of an art piece. Composed of acrylic, collaged images, found objects, polyurethane, vinyl, and cassette tapes, “33 and a Third of Soul” by local artist Ellington Robinson is as busy as it is meaningful. Naturally, the
I wrote the first installment of the Fake News series in October of 2020. Both the name and timing of the series attest to my inspiration: being three surreal years deep into the presidency of Donald Trump, in which he spurned the “fake news” that criticized him while welcoming “alternative facts” that improved his image.
The story of civil unrest in America is one of persistence. It is a story of long, slow, unflagging battle waged against the powers of persecution. Generation after generation finds themselves fighting for the same causes and celebrating each small victory along the stony road to the final, ultimate victory. The underserved, underrepresented masses of
In Plato’s Republic, written in the fourth century BC, the philosopher posits that ideal and completely just governance can only be achieved beneath the rule of a “philosopher king,” a ruler who seeks truth through philosophical study. To Plato, only this type of ruler can be permanently in the service of justice because only this
Is Cornel West the Philosopher King America Needs? Read More »
Since the very beginning of Muriel Bowser’s eight years as the mayor of Washington, D.C., she and the city council have failed to consistently see eye to eye on policy measures and administrative decisions concerning accountability, crime, and the way crime should be policed. This disunity stems from fundamental differences between Bowser’s and the council’s
Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council’s Clashes on Crime Read More »
The thirteenth of this month marked the first time that a large-scale Juneteenth celebration was held at the White House. Following President Joe Biden’s signing Juneteenth into law as a federal holiday two years ago, this year’s holiday was celebrated on the White House’s South Lawn with song, dance, and sentimental speech. The celebration featured
Every third Sunday in June, Americans make a special effort to show their respect, appreciation, and admiration for their fathers. The preceding weeks see ties, barbecue grills, bottles of whiskey, golf clubs, and other fatherly items fly out of stores so that their eventual recipients might feel a little extra love on the coming Father’s
