COLORLINES - Arts & Culture

Wyclef Jean to Headline Vets’ Fundraiser at Republican Convention

by Jorge Rivas on August 21 2012, 12:15PM

Wyclef Jean will not be gone till November because he’ll be performing at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida on August 29th.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Read a Young Willow Smith’s Heartfelt Letter to Tupac Asking Him to ‘Please Come Back’

by Jorge Rivas on August 20 2012, 1:54PM

“Can you please come back, can you come back so momy [sic] and me can be happy,” wrote the 11-year-old star in the letter she says she wrote “YEARS” ago.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Former Black Panther Richard Aoki Named an FBI Informant

by Jorge Rivas on August 20 2012, 11:35AM

The man who armed the Black Panthers turns out to have been an FBI informant.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Whitney Houston’s Last Film ‘Sparkle’ Flops at Box Office

by Jorge Rivas on August 20 2012, 10:47AM

The allure of Whitney Houston’s final performance didn’t drive many crowds to “Sparkle.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

PopChips Didn’t Learn From Indian Ad Saga —They’re On Mexicans Now

by Jorge Rivas on August 17 2012, 11:20AM

Remember the fiasco earlier this year after PopChips ran commercials with Ashton Kutcher in brownface impersonating Indians?

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Two Young Black Poets From Philly on Hipster Racism [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on August 17 2012, 9:43AM

Brave New Voices poets take hipster liberal colorblind racist “anti-racists” to task.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Univision and NAACP Slam Debate Commission’s All White Moderators

by Jorge Rivas on August 17 2012, 9:32AM

Univision president and CEO Randy Falco on Wednesday sent a letter to Janet H. Brown, the Commission on Presidential Debates’ executive director, expressing “disappointment on behalf of the millions of Hispanics who do not have a voice in the upcoming presidential debates.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Michelle Obama Jokingly Scolds Gabby Douglas for Egg McMuffin

by Jorge Rivas on August 14 2012, 8:40AM

First Lady Michelle Obama, an advocate of healthy eating, and Gabby Douglas were guests on “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno on Monday night. When Douglas was asked how she celebrated her three gold Olympic medals, she said she splurged on…

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, Olympics

You Gotta Work the Culture If You Wanna Change the Politics

by Rinku Sen on August 14 2012, 8:32AM

Rinku Sen profiles several artists and cultural organizers who’s work you can check out this summer—and at our Facing Race conference in November.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Facing Race 2012, Politics, Rinku Sen

Gabby Douglas Gets a Mural in Her Hometown and She’s Going to be on ‘Oprah’

by Jorge Rivas on August 13 2012, 2:32PM

Gabby Douglas will return to her hometown of Virginia Beach, Va to find a new 9-by-30 foot mural made in her honor.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Our Aunties’ Best Tips to Beat the Summer Heat

by Julianne Hing on August 10 2012, 10:30AM

Find yourself an empty gourd, a place to nap, or a frozen watermelon, and lay very, very still.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Summer

Getting Serious About Jokes with the Writers of FX’s ‘Totally Biased’

by Channing Kennedy on August 9 2012, 9:56AM

Colorlines.com visits the star and staff of the only late-night show hosted by a black person, premiering tonight on FX.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Former Undocumented Immigrant Leo Manzano Wins Silver Medal for U.S.

by Jorge Rivas on August 8 2012, 9:41AM

Mexican-born, American runner Leo Manzano is the first American to medal in the 1,500-meter final since Jim Ryun won silver in 1968.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, Olympics

Laughter Can Make a Movement Go Around, Too

by Rinku Sen on August 8 2012, 8:48AM

So watch Kamau Bell’s new FX show, “Totally Biased,” as it premiers tomorrow night.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Rinku Sen

Gabby Douglas Too Busy Competing to Care What You Think About Her Hair

by Julianne Hing on August 6 2012, 5:31PM

“You might as well stop talking about it,” the Olympic champion said.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, Olympics

Jeremy Lin on the Upside of Others’ Low Expectations

by Julianne Hing on August 6 2012, 1:32PM

The NBA still seems not to know what to do with the Asian American star, and Lin doesn’t seem to mind.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, Sports

Artist Encourages People to Report ‘Illegal’ Comic Heroes to ICE

by Hatty Lee on August 6 2012, 9:47AM

“If ICE is going to be rounding up people and labeling them ‘illegal’, that has to be applied to these pop culture gods and goddesses,” says Neil Rivas.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Immigration