Much has been written and there’s been much said about the Shirley Sherrod incident.  I’m on my way into the studio to produce this week’s Basic Black (yes, Shirley Sherrod will be one of the topics…) so unfortunately I don’t have the time to write a piece.  In the meantime, I’m more interested in your read full article


To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee turns 50 this month. I read this book and saw the movie in high school.  It’s a beautifully written story and I’ve seen the movie more times than I can count.  But what always struck me about To Kill A Mockingbird wasn’t so much the story as much read full article


“Ex-gay” Donnie McClurkin at Boston’s GospelFest by Rev. Irene Monroe Every year Mayor Tom Menino’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events puts on its annual Boston GospelFest at City Hall Plaza. And because the Gospelfest is a public and taxpayer-funded community event, it??s opened to all — even the African American lesbian, gay, bisexual, read full article


The creators of the new commercial for Kia Soul nailed it.  It??s one of the most creative ads I??ve seen in a while.  It features a crew of hamsters in the voices of the hip hop group The Black Sheep singing The Choice is Yours.  It??s also a very smart ad, especially if you understand read full article


First, full disclosure:  I don??t follow basketball as a game; I??m more interested in the cultural study of sports.  And more importantly, I am a native of Cleveland. But I haven??t lived in Cleveland for a very long time, which is why I watched the whole LeBron James thing with a mix of emotions and read full article


Yesterday President Barack Obama accepted General Stanley McChrystal’s letter of resignation as commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.  General David Petraeus has been nominated to fill the post.


The young and emerging journalists at Press Pass TV get opinions from their peers and older experts on the relationship between members of their community and the Boston Police Department. From the Press Pass TV site:  For 5 years, Press Pass TV has gathered some of the brightest and most dedicated minds in media to read full article


Lena Horne Was More Than Skin-Deep Rev. Irene Monroe Lena Horne died this Mother??s Day at the age of 92. If you are of my generation of Lena Horne fans, your first encounters with the star was her role as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, in “The Wiz” the 1978 film of the read full article


Harvard Student Email on Black Genetic Inferiority Causes a Stir Rev. Irene Monroe As one of the most renowned and liberal institutions in the world, it’s always hurtful and harmful ?? both to the campus milieu and the school’s reputation ?? when racist and sexist acts occur at Harvard University. Last week, a lengthy email read full article


by Carrie from Basic Black The story burning up the blogosphere today is that a Harvard Law student made some racially charged comments at a dinner, and then sent an email to her dining companions to clarify what had been said: ???¦ I just hate leaving things where I feel I misstated my position. I read full article