News
This Young Man Is Being Called the Best Tech Reviewer On the Planet
from News One
"What started out as a hobby for Marques Brownlee has made him into one of the tech world’s youngest experts. The 20-year-old began making Youtube videos where he reviews tech products at the time he was entering high school. Today, his Youtube channel, MKBHD, has more than 1.5 million subscribers and his 640-plus videos have a total of 130 million total views."
Why Am I Stepping Off the Sidewalk for White People in 2014?
from The Root
"It’s entirely possible that you’re just a really polite person and you do this for everyone, but because of your awareness of America’s racial history, you’re hyperconscious of stepping aside when you do it for white people."
Boil, Burn Or Explode? How You Die In Space
from NPR
"C'mon, admit it. You've wondered. You've mused. You've pondered. At some point in your life — probably after watching a science-fiction movie — you've found yourself asking that all-important question: What happens if you find yourself in space without a spacesuit?"
How Pharrell Williams Finally Made It to the Top
from The Daily Beast
"For the past year it has been impossible to escape the unshakeable beats and ageless looks of Pharrell Williams. Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”—both insatiable hits crafted by Williams—positioned him as one of last year’s leading hitmakers (he became the 12th person in the history of Billboard’s charts to simultaneously hold the top two spots)."
Anything You Spit Can Be Used Against You
from NPR
"Antwain Steward was arrested and charged with killing two people in Newport News, Va., in large part based on rap lyrics he wrote — even though his lyrics didn't sync up with the details of the crime."
Uzo Aduba: My Road to ‘Orange Is the New Black’
from The Daily Beast
"The Emmy-nominated actress’s name means ‘The Road Is Good’ in Igbo. She writes of the struggles, battles, and losses through which her name has helped her persevere—to the role that made her famous."
We Don't Need The "New Blacks", We Need Our "Talented Tenth"
from Clutch Mag Online
"Earlier this year, Pharrell Williams sent social media and the web sphere into frenzy when he declared himself to be the “New Black”. Williams defined “New Black” as somebody who “doesn’t blame other races for our issues."
THE SDCC FILES: THE COSPLAY GALLERY
from Racialicious
"As a cosplayer myself, I know how challenging (and fun) designing, finding, and creating costumes for cons can be. With that in mind I wanted to showcase some of the costumed heroes, heroines and other beloved characters of colour Art and I spotted during this year’s con."
Listen to Pete Rock’s “James Brown Tribute” Mix
from Mass Appeal
"Pete Rock can easily be considered one of the most soulful hip hop artists of the past 20 years, but all of that stems from Soul Brother #1— James Brown. Pete Rock is recognizing James Brown’s influence on him, as well as his role in laying the foundation for hip hop, by releasing a new mixtape titled Get On Up, which coincides with the release of the James Brown biopic in theaters."
Comic-Con’s Iconic Black Panel Encourages Minorities to ‘Create Our Own Heroes’
from Atlanta Blackstar
"When Milestone Media co-founder Michael Davis first started Comic-Con’s Black Panel in 1998, he had a very clear purpose for the discussion – to get African-Americans to focus on creating their own heroes."
Questlove Gives Definitive Take on Iggy Azalea's Hip-Hop Posturing
from Gawker
"Is platinum-certified, platinum-haired Australian rapper Iggy Azalea a racist, or a harmless drag queen? Is she a racist drag queen? Are all drag queens racists? Are all racists drag queens? Who knows! Well, one man does, certainly: Roots drummer/author/curator Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. "
South African Illustrators Redefining The Afro-Aesthetic
from Afropunk
"The Afrocentric aesthetic has become a cliché within itself. It’s been muffled with defunct and ill-informed iconography and filled to brim with afros, fists and animal prints referenced from overly exhausted templates that expired lifetimes ago. For countless centuries the creative products of Africans have been ornamental to the lives of middle classed Europeans with postcard knowledge of their origins."
On PBS Series, Nas Reminded of America’s History of Slavery After Seeing Bill of Sale for His Ancestor
from Atlanta Blackstar
"Many stars have decided to trace their roots with the help of Harvard University scholar, author and filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr., but none of these experiences could have prepared Nas for what he was going to discover."
This Couple Had A Superhero Wedding And It’s The Sweetest Thing You’ve Ever Seen
from Buzzfeed
"Meet Reinesha and Devan. They got married at the Chapel at the Farm in Arizona, as Superman and Wonder Woman."
Yes She Can: Former NASA Employee Launches New Diversity-Filled Emoji App
from Clutch Mag Online
"For those people who like to use emoticons, whether you’re Team Android or Team iPhone, the lack of diversity has been a common issue. But a former NASA employee has done something about it. Katrina Parrott developed iDiversicons that includes over 900 diverse emoticons."
She ‘Got Time For That’: Sweet Brown Sues Apple For $15 Million
from News One
"Internet sensation Sweet Brown is suing software giant Apple for profiting from her YouTube success without permission"
39 Pieces Of Advice For Journalists And Writers Of Color
from Buzzfeed
"For people of color, the writing industry can seem an especially challenging space, particularly for those just starting out. We spoke with 20 established writers of color – cultural writers, investigative reporters, broadcast journalists, and freelancers – and asked them three questions about the advice that they’d give beginning writers"
Cool Jobs: Comic Illustrator Talks Art and Race in the World of Superheroes
from Black Enterprise
"Afua Richardson is one of the talents making a name for herself in the business. An award-winning illustrator, she has worked with industry heavyweights such as Marvel, DC, and Image comics. She is best known for her work on Top Cow’s Pilot Season winning comic book, Genius."
The Battle to Get African Games on Phones
from Atlanta Blackstar
"Nigerian creator Olakunle Ogungbamila is ready to take on the challenge of making his new mobile phone game, Afro Fighters, just as popular as its predecessors Clash of Clans and Angry Birds. In order to do this, he has to deal with obstacles holding up Africa’s games development industry. Those challenges include mobile phone connections, subscriptions and surrounding infrastructure."
DaQuan Vs. David and The Problem with Memes
from Clutch Mag Online
"Social media networks can often be a cauldron of fuckery, and this is most evident in the viral memes that are initiated on Instagram and Twitter. We’ve been blessed with Kermit the Frog, Olivia “Boss Chick” Kendall, Guess Who and a myriad of other memes that deliver snarky messages laden with popular culture references."