Colorlines

Akiba Solomon

gender_icon_rev_030612.jpg Gender Reporter and Columnist Akiba Solomon writes about race, gender, the assaults on women's reproductive healthcare and rights, and how women of color and poor women stand to lose the most.

Follow Akiba @akibasolomon

FBI Gets Closer to Calling Rape What It Is

FBI Gets Closer to Calling Rape What It Is

by Akiba Solomon on October 21 2011, 9:53AM

The new working definition of rape may become official in December. Thankfully, it doesn’t include the words “carnal” or “forcible,” and it doesn’t exclude victims who aren’t female.

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What I Learned from Anita Hill at 20

What I Learned from Anita Hill at 20

by Akiba Solomon on October 18 2011, 11:15AM

At a major conference commemorating the 20th anniversary of Anita Hill’s groundbreaking testimony, the intersection between race and gender came through loud and clear.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality

Score! A Transgender People's Victory in the State of California

Score! A Transgender People’s Victory in the State of California

by Akiba Solomon on October 12 2011, 12:22PM

New laws make it easier to get ID and clarify what should be a basic truth: You can’t discriminate against somebody because they’re transgender.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality

More Thoughts on SlutWalk: No Attention is Better Than Bad Attention

More Thoughts on SlutWalk: No Attention is Better Than Bad Attention

by Akiba Solomon on October 6 2011, 3:09PM

I was ambivalent about SlutWalk—until I saw this picture.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality

FBI to Revise Hopelessly Narrow Definition of Rape

FBI to Revise Hopelessly Narrow Definition of Rape

by Akiba Solomon on September 29 2011, 10:05AM

It only took 80 years for the federal agency to acknowledge that “carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will” excludes a whole lot of victims.

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William Jelani Cobb Reports from the Prison Gates

William Jelani Cobb Reports from the Prison Gates

by Akiba Solomon on September 22 2011, 2:00PM

The historian and author spent seven hours outside of the prison where Troy Davis was executed last night. Here, he describes the mood of the crowd, the police reaction and he weighs in on why Obama didn’t step in.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Criminal Justice, Troy Davis

Where Does the Racialized Pro-Life Movement Stand on Troy Davis?

Where Does the Racialized Pro-Life Movement Stand on Troy Davis?

by Akiba Solomon on September 21 2011, 11:40AM

The abortion-as-black-genocide lobby is conspicuously silent in the life-or-death case of an acutal person outside of the womb.

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DSK and Satoshi Kanazawa Are Sorry They Hurt Our Feelings

DSK and Satoshi Kanazawa Are Sorry They Hurt Our Feelings

by Akiba Solomon on September 19 2011, 9:29AM

My 19-month-old nephew is better at apologizing than the former IMF chief and the former Psychology Today blogger.

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Baltimore Woman Caught Beating a Transwoman at McDonald's Learns Fate

Baltimore Woman Caught Beating a Transwoman at McDonald’s Learns Fate

by Akiba Solomon on September 14 2011, 10:16AM

Teonna Brown says she’s sorry. For Chrissy Polis, it’s too little, too late.

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How Personhood Mississippi Perverts Black History to Fight Abortion

How Personhood Mississippi Perverts Black History to Fight Abortion

by Akiba Solomon on September 9 2011, 12:15PM

Personhood Mississippi, the group behind the anti-choice ballot initiative Amendment 26, is the latest group to hijack racial justice history for a profoundly unjust cause. This sleaze has got to stop.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Personhood

My Dark, Twisted Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne Fantasy

My Dark, Twisted Jay-Z and Lil’ Wayne Fantasy

by Akiba Solomon on September 2 2011, 11:00AM

On the heels of the so-called beef over who’s richer, I dream of a world where these two monster MCs use their ample powers for the good of everybody—including women.

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Chicago Woman Groped By Cop Found Innocent of Eavesdropping

Chicago Woman Groped By Cop Found Innocent of Eavesdropping

by Akiba Solomon on August 29 2011, 11:50AM

Tiawanda Moore thought she was doing the right thing when she reported a Chicago police officer who allegedly groped her breast during an interview. Little did she know that she’d end up facing 15 years in prison.

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DSK Rape Case Takeaway Number 8: So-Called Credibility Trumps Justice

DSK Rape Case Takeaway Number 8: So-Called Credibility Trumps Justice

by Akiba Solomon on August 25 2011, 2:52PM

As expected, Nafissatou Diallo’s inconsistencies have compelled prosecutors to abandon her sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn. It’s a sad day in so-called justice.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, DSK Rape Case

'Awkward Black Girl' Creator Talks Hollywood, Race and Creative Control

‘Awkward Black Girl’ Creator Talks Hollywood, Race and Creative Control

by Akiba Solomon on August 22 2011, 9:06AM

Issa Rae, the creator and star of the hit Web comedy “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” proved that if you build it, we will come. Rae talks with Colorlines.com’s Akiba Solomon about the show and her future.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Arts & Culture, Media

Is Your Credit Report Hurting Your Job Search?

Is Your Credit Report Hurting Your Job Search?

by Akiba Solomon on August 15 2011, 9:37AM

A growing number of employers are using credit checks to determine who they hire, promote and fire. Learn how race factors in—and what you can do about it.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Economy, Jobs Crisis

Is the SlutWalk Movement Relevant For a Black Feminist?

Is the SlutWalk Movement Relevant For a Black Feminist?

by Akiba Solomon on August 5 2011, 12:45PM

What started among college activists in Toronto has exploded into a global movement, with some fuzzy racial politics. But feminist filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons explains why she’s taking the stage at her hometown’s SlutWalk tomorrow.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality

An Obama Victory: Co-Pay Free Birth Control Becomes a Reality For Women

An Obama Victory: Co-Pay Free Birth Control Becomes a Reality For Women

by Akiba Solomon on August 2 2011, 10:23AM

The Obama administration said yes to full insurance coverage for women’s contraceptives, STD screenings and other preventive measure. Fine print aside, they’ve done the right thing.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Health

A Few Thoughts About 'Paying' Rape Victims

A Few Thoughts About ‘Paying’ Rape Victims

by Akiba Solomon on July 29 2011, 12:47PM

The Beautiful Struggler asks why rape victims who seek compensation are less believable than those who don’t. Good question.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, DSK Rape Case

DSK Rape Case Takeaway Number 7: Alleged Victims Are People, Too

DSK Rape Case Takeaway Number 7: Alleged Victims Are People, Too

by Akiba Solomon on July 26 2011, 1:48PM

With her credibility in question and the prosecution wavering, Nafissatou Diallo, the Sofitel maid at the center of the DSK rape case, has joined the media circus. Brace yourself for a rape culture extravaganza.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, DSK Rape Case

Birth Control Without Co-Pays and 4 Reasons to Care About Health Reform

Birth Control Without Co-Pays and 4 Reasons to Care About Health Reform

by Akiba Solomon on July 22 2011, 12:59PM

A new report recommends that the feds force insurance companies to fully cover birth control pills, STD screenings and other women’s health musts under health reform. It’s up to us to make them listen.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Health