COLORLINES - Akiba Solomon

Cocoa Butter, India.Arie and Colorism Trolling in the Music Industry

by Akiba Solomon on April 4 2013, 6:00AM

R&B meets colorism meets online marketing again. It’s annoying.

On Steubenville, Guns, and Healthy Echo Chambers

by Akiba Solomon on March 20 2013, 1:30PM

Sexual violence is horrible. It’s also an extremely complicated issue to handle online. That’s why we need to help each other sort it out, take a break if needed—and allow room for the complexity of human compassion.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Media

CNN Contributing Producer Probes Lingering Pain of the ‘One Drop’ Rule

by Akiba Solomon on December 7 2012, 9:43AM

CNN’s upcoming “Black in America 5” wades into the deep of black identity and skin color politics. Here, Dr. Yaba Blay, a Ghanain-American scholar whose independent work sparked the special, talks about the nuances of a topic often considered too hot TV.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, History, Media

Fighting HIV/AIDS Stigma the Red Shoe Way

by Akiba Solomon on November 29 2012, 1:22PM

Humor blogger and Red Pump Project co-founder Luvvie Ajayi blends fun and fashion with the serious topic of HIV/AIDS and stigma.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, HIV/AIDS, Health

The Big Military Story No One Wants to Talk About Right Now: Rape

by Akiba Solomon on November 16 2012, 7:24AM

The General Petraeus sex scandal is all the rage. But we need to focus our attention on how the military is handling routine rape and retaliation against survivors in service.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality

Five Race and Gender Justice Lessons Learned from This Marathon Election Cycle

by Akiba Solomon on November 7 2012, 9:49AM

It’s a cliche to say that the work doesn’t end after Election Day. But people keep saying it because it’s true! Herewith, some takeaways from the past four years and next steps.

Topics: 2012 Election, Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Second Term, War on Women

A Personal Take on the Nina Simone Biopic’s Casting Troubles

by Akiba Solomon on October 30 2012, 9:05AM

The unauthorized biopic of Nina Simone has been riddled with criticism for casting Mary J. Blige and, most recently, Zoe Saldana in the starring role. Here, an (admittedly sentimental) argument for why it’s a fail.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Arts & Culture, Nina Simone

The Cleveland Uppercut, Lil Reese and Camera Phone Savagery

by Akiba Solomon on October 29 2012, 10:00AM

Camera phone videos of black men beating up black women are all the rage. What does that say about us, the viewers?

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Media

‘Binders Full of Women,’ Violent Single Moms and Other Debate Moments

by Akiba Solomon on October 17 2012, 8:52AM

At least nobody can call the second debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama boring.

Topics: 2012 Election, Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Politics

Why is Abortion a Sidenote in the Big Show?

by Akiba Solomon on October 12 2012, 11:26AM

Staunchly anti-choice Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan got off easy on reproductive health rights at last night’s debate. Which makes sense, since the issue was cast as a personal matter.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Politics

Collateral Damage in the War on Women

by Akiba Solomon on October 11 2012, 9:54AM

Poor and uninsured women of color are starting to feel the results after two years of relentless attacks on family planning infrastructure. Akiba Solomon reports from Texas.

Topics: 2012 Election, Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Health, War on Women

We Can’t Afford to Participate in a ‘Justice for Some’ Culture

by Akiba Solomon on September 24 2012, 10:00AM

Coverage of the case of Michelle Kosilek, the Massachusetts prisoner who will receive state-funded gender reassignment surgery, has sparked lots of vicious, vengeful, anti-trans comments. Here’s why that’s dangerous for everyone.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Criminal Justice, Gender & Sexuality

What’s the Best Way for Hip-Hop to Criticize Itself? [Reader Forum]

by Channing Kennedy on September 4 2012, 9:16AM

Lupe Fiasco’s “Bitch Bad,” and Akiba Solomon’s take on it, kicks off a conversation at Colorlines.com about how hiphop can take a stand while still being listenable.

Topics: Akiba Solomon

Why We Need More Songs Like Lupe Fiasco’s ‘B@#ch Bad’

by Akiba Solomon on August 30 2012, 12:17PM

Lupe Fiasco’s sonic and visual exploration of the bad b@#ch phenomenon has sparked lots of critique. I’m too busy celebrating it to split ideological hairs.

Topics: Akiba Solomon

An Open Letter to Rep. Todd Akin From Women of Color Activists

by Akiba Solomon on August 24 2012, 11:18AM

Rep. Akin, I and a few women of color activists have some information for you about the nature of rape and legitimacy. Since you draft laws that affect our bodies, we ask that you read every word.

Topics: 2012 Election, Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality, Todd Akin

Paul Ryan Sullies Black History, Has Woman Problems

by Akiba Solomon on August 17 2012, 9:10AM

The VP candidate is good with online aesthetics but falls short when it comes to women’s reproductive health. Oh, and he’s not below trotting out Dred Scott to get his way.

Topics: 2012 Election, Akiba Solomon, Paul Ryan, Politics

A Lesson from Philadelphia’s Little Film Festival that Could

by Akiba Solomon on August 10 2012, 9:44AM

At the inaugural BlackStar Film Festival, self determination, communion and cultural movement-building got top billing.

Topics: Akiba Solomon

‘Red Bone Girls,’ ‘Chocolate Legs,’ and Eric Benet’s Color-Complex Payday

by Akiba Solomon on August 2 2012, 10:06AM

Halle Berry’s ex husband has figured out a novel way to sell his new album: Exploit divisions between dark and light skinned women. For $19.95, you too can buy some white supremacy.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Arts & Culture, Gender & Sexuality

An AIDS 2012 Takeaway: More Poor, Criminalized and Marginalized Folks Belong at the Table

by Akiba Solomon on July 27 2012, 9:49AM

This week’s International AIDS Conference brought more than 20,000 top experts, activists, politicians and celebrities to the nation’s capitol to exchange ideas about how to end HIV. Here’s hoping that the next one will include more everyday people.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, HIV/AIDS, Health

Food Stamps, Poor-Shaming and the Very Scary 2012 Farm Bill

by Akiba Solomon on July 26 2012, 9:58AM

Why we can’t afford to have moralistic debates about the choices desperate parents make as they try to feed their families.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Economy, Food Stamps

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