Category: Black in the World
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A Latina Teen “Comes Out” as Black
Hi Meltingpot Readers, No time to write, but I stumbled upon this interview on NPR about a Dominican teen who finally realized that she was Black after she stopped straightening her hair. Basically she realized that being Black and being Latina were not mutually exclusive. Score one for the Afro-Latinas! Enjoy!
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Kinky in Spain: A 21st Century Hair Story
Hi Meltingpot Readers, If you know me then you know two of my twin passions are Black hair and Spain. Not necessarily Black hair in Spain, but you could imagine my excitement if somehow these two topics somehow came together in some kind of magnificent event. And guess what? They did. Sadly, I wasn’t involved…
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The Real Harlem Shake: Thank You Melissa-Harris Perry
Hi Meltingpot Readers, When I recently heard about the Harlem Shake, I immediately bristled at the name when all I saw on YouTube were White people twitching and wiggling in funny costumes. I didn’t get it. And it just didn’t feel right. Then my sons came home telling me I had to see this Harlem…
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Black History Beyond Borders: Martín de Porres
Hi Meltingpot Readers, I figured for the rest of the short month of February, I’d use the Meltingpot to highlight some Black history facts that most people don’t know about, paying particular attention to the Black heroes and heroines who made their mark beyond US borders. First up is Martín de Porres. Claim To Black…
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Queen of Sheba and King Solomon:Interracial Romance Goes Biblical
Hi Meltingpot Readers, My mother has a close friend who loves the Lord. A lot. And she wants to ensure that friends and family enjoy a similar kind of love. As such, she worries about me and mine, given that my search for a religion I can call my own has taken me down some…
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Michelle Obama Depicted As a Slave in Spain. Say What?
I am married to a Spaniard. I have lived in Spain. I consider the Iberian peninsula my home away from home. But I still cringe and throw up my hands in disbelief when the country that created el esposo, keeps putting themselves on the national stage with racially provocative misdeeds. The latest is this…
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Archie Goes Black!
Archie Comics played an important role in my childhood. I wasn’t big into comics as a genre, but I read every single Archie comic I could get my hands on. Keeping up with the trials and tribulations of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Reggie, satisfied my pre-adolescent need for romance, drama and adventure. For me,…
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RIP Sherman Hemsley
Hello Meltingpot Readers, I am very sad to report that the man who will always be remembered as George Jefferson, aka Sherman Hemsely, died yesterday. He was only 74 years old. I just found out that Hemsely was a Philadelphia native, so the Philadelphia Inquirer posted a great article covering his childhood in South Philly, his early…
