COLORLINES - Arts & Culture

Carlos Santana: Grammy Academy is Racist for Cutting Award Categories

by Jorge Rivas on August 19 2011, 1:30PM

His comments come after the Recording Academy’s decision in April to consolidate or eliminate music categories that mostly include artists of color.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Dave Chappelle Sits Down for First Interview in Five Years

by Jorge Rivas on August 16 2011, 12:52PM

He explained his infamous 45-minute silent performance that made headlines in June, recovering from his addiction to being famous and life in Ohio.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Get Ready for 24 Hours of Tyler Perry on TylerTV Cable Channel

by Jorge Rivas on August 10 2011, 2:33PM

The man behind the popular Madea series may soon have a network of his own.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Why I’m Just Saying No to ‘The Help’ and Its Historical Whitewash

by Akiba Solomon on August 10 2011, 12:50PM

Despite the hype and the ensemble of fine black actresses, I’m opting out of “The Help.” The trailer alone features too many group hugs to be trusted as an accounting of the civil rights movement.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History, The Help

‘Parks and Rec’ Star Aziz Ansari Gets ‘Red Dot’ Question Onstage

by Jorge Rivas on August 9 2011, 12:45PM

Comedian Aziz Ansari had a tense encounter with an audience member who had asked, “Why don’t you have a red dot on your forehead?

Topics: Arts & Culture

The Revolutionary Everyday Courage of “The Barber of Birmingham”

by Katti Gray on August 9 2011, 9:35AM

James Armstrong was neither a national movement leader nor a star-power elected official. He was just a guy with a barbershop and heart big enough to fight for his community’s dignity.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History

Why Amazon May Sell Jay-Z, Kanye West’s ‘The Throne’ for 99¢

by Jorge Rivas on August 8 2011, 12:25PM

The artists have chosen to sell their highly anticipated new album only at exclusive, big-name retailers. Indy sellers aren’t pleased.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Can a Black-Latino Spider-Man Do Whatever a Spider Can? [Reader Forum]

by Channing Kennedy on August 8 2011, 9:30AM

The new mixed-race Spider-Man just got introduced to comics fans, and the idea of him is sparking conversations about race and art. Our readers discuss.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Latin Jazz Musicians File Class Action Against Grammy Awards

by Jorge Rivas on August 4 2011, 3:44PM

Four Latin jazz musicians are suing organizers of the Grammy Awards for eliminating the genre as an award category.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Kreayshawn: “There Are, Like, Times When It Sucks Being White”

by Jorge Rivas on August 3 2011, 4:31PM

East Oakland’s white rap phenom Kreayshawn’s still talking—and banking a million-dollar record deal.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Akon Responds to Lupe: Obama’s No Terrorist, But Maybe GOP Is

by Jorge Rivas on August 3 2011, 12:43PM

WATCH: The Senegalese-born R&B star responds to Lupe Fiasco’s critique of President Obama, saying he’s seen for himself how differently the world thinks about America now.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Marvel Overcomes Its Fear of a Black Spider-Man. Will White Fans Follow?

by Channing Kennedy on August 3 2011, 10:45AM

Marvel Comics unveils today Miles Morales, the half-black half-Latino kid who’s standing in for Peter Parker as Spider-Man in the offshoot “Ultimate Fallout #4.”

Topics: Arts & Culture

Race and Gender Meet on Rashaad Ernesto Green’s “Gun Hill Road”

by Kyle Bella on August 1 2011, 9:30AM

“I think the film will help people see and understand people that they didn’t necessarily know about,” says the Bronx director about his film’s unprecedented transgender coming of age story.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Gender & Sexuality