Around the world, Michael Jackson was celebrated Sunday, but there was a special fervor in black neighborhoods and churches. Jackson is seen as a towering figure with crossover appeal, even if in life some of his black fans wondered if he was as proud of his race as his race was of him. Includes comments by WUSTL AFAS professor Gerald Early.

References:

1. June 29, 2009 — Black Reverence for Jackson Is Now Unreserved in the The New York Times

and 11 others.

Obama's election, and this year's 100th anniversary of the NAACP, means there has probably never been more reason to celebrate the annual February observance, black leaders and historians say. Includes comments by WUSTL AFAS professor Gerald Early.

References:

1. Feb. 2, 2009 — Black History Month has added meaning in 2009 in the USA Today

and 3 others.

Interest in the baseball among black youths is a topic of concern for MLB as more of that demographic seems to be interested in football and basketball. WUSTL professor Gerald Early, an expert on black culture, attributes this to the lack of availability of baseball in many black communities.

References:

1. May 29, 2008 — Taking Them Out to the Ballgame in the The Washington Post

Two more individuals who pleaded not guilty last month along with Michael Vick to charges stemming from a dog fighting ring agreed to plea agreements with the government. He faces three felony charges related to dog fighting and could face up to five years in prison and as much as a $250,000 fine if found guilty. Christopher Bracey, a professor of law and African American Studies at WUSTL, comments in a telephone interview.

References:

1. Aug. 17, 2007 — Two Plead Guilty in Dogfighting Case Tied to Vick in the The New York Times

and 4 others.

Article looks at the devastating effect the 1967 Detroit riot had on black economic development and its entrepreneurial gem, Motown Records. It plunged the city into a four-decade economic decline that is only now beginning to turn around.
WUSTL professor Gerald Early, author of One Nation Under a Groove: Motown and American Culture, is one of the experts commenting on the events of that time.

References:

1. July 20, 2007 — The day the music died in the The Wall Street Journal

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is one of the most important and well-known players in the NFL.
Vick was indicted on federal felony charges alleging that he had sponsored dogfighting since 2001, that he frequently gambled on dogfighting and that he authorized acts of cruelty against animals on property that he owned.
He is also facing the NFL's new law-and-order commissioner, Roger Goodell.
WUSTL AFAS and law professor Christopher Bracey says this has become bigger than Michael Vick.
"He has become a poster child for animal rights and animal fighting, for conspicuous consumption, for bad judgment and for what happens when you give someone too much too soon."

References:

1. July 20, 2007 — The Elusive Vick Takes His Hardest Hit in the The New York Times

On March 6, 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court denied slave Dred Scott his freedom, a decision that helped push a nation inflamed over slavery closer to Civil War.
Throughout St. Louis, events are being held to mark the 150th anniversary of the ruling in the court case that began in this city, and to foster new discussions about race and equality in America.
WUSTL history and law professor David Konig comments on the legacy of the decision.
WUSTL is holding a national symposium March 1-3. It aims to provide insights into American history, culture and the struggle for equality.

References:

1. Feb. 28, 2007 — St. Louis hosts events to mark anniversary of Dred Scott ruling in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 8 others.

WUSTL professor and linguistics expert John Baugh comments on the heated debate over the use of the N-word.
"A ban -- forced or voluntary -- isn't likely to have much real effect, especially since you can't ban the emotions that fuel its use, from the passion of hatred to the affection of inclusion, he believes. Ban the N-word and another linguistic shorthand will arise to take its place, its historical symbolism still intact."

References:

1. Dec. 5, 2006 — Use it? Or lose it? in the The Los Angeles Times

and 2 others.

WUSTL professor and linguistics expert John Baugh comments on the heated debate over the use of the N-word.
"A ban -- forced or voluntary -- isn't likely to have much real effect, especially since you can't ban the emotions that fuel its use, from the passion of hatred to the affection of inclusion, he believes. Ban the N-word and another linguistic shorthand will arise to take its place, its historical symbolism still intact."

References:

1. Dec. 5, 2006 — Use it? Or lose it? in the The Los Angeles Times

and 2 others.

During the month of February, WUSTL English professor and American culture specialist Gerald Early wrote an online column about American culture for the New York Times TimesSelect online service. Included are excerpts from his first column.

References:

1. Feb. 2, 2006 — Op-Ed: In the Center of It All in the New York Times online

Writer reflects on why the public is still interested in Mike Tyson, despite his decline as a boxer. WUSTL professor and cultural critic Gerald Early comments.

References:

1. June 5, 2005 — Public still fascinated by aging Tyson in the MSNBC.com

and 4 others.

For the first time in NFL history, black quarterbacks will be starting for opposing teams in a conference championship game, WUSTL African and Afro-American Studies professor Gerald Early comments.

References:

1. Jan. 19, 2005 — A positive signal for quarterbacks in the Washington Post

and 1 others.

As the nation's Halloween revelers head into this weekend of festivities, they can expect to see lots of pimps, or at least people pretending to be pimps. WUSTL education professor Garrett Duncan suggests the fascination with pimps among whites is a continuation of a history of appropriating various aspects of African-American culture by the larger society.

References:

1. Oct. 29, 2004 — Pimp costumes, popular for Halloween, remain controversial in the Biloxi Sun Herald (MS)
2. Oct. 23, 2004 — Culture takes shot at altering meaning of �pimp� in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

and 15 others.