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A CNN.com article addresses how hair and hair styles are so deeply rooted in African American identity and culture: 

An article in Entertainment Weekly asks, "How do you solve a problem like Madea?" in addressing what it references as "black America's secret culture war." 

The abuse allegations in the Rihanna-Chris Brown relationship. The Michael Phelps marijuana bong photo. Alex Rodriguez' admission of using steroids. Much is being made of the possible impact of the actions of these and other public figures on young people.

Why do we expect celebrities to be role models?

According to a Pew Research Center survey, geographic mobility is at the lowest levels since the government began keeping statistics in 1948:

As a nation, the United States is often portrayed as restless and rootless. Census data, though, indicate that Americans are settling down.

A New York Times article addresses the issue of being young, Black and Republican in today's political landscape:

“There was something annoying about the idea that if you were black, you had to be Democrat,” Mr. Ivory said. “The blog started out as a means to vent.” While some blacks lean conservative on issues like abortion and gay marriage, Web sites like Mr.

In an Op-Ed piece, Huntsville (AL) Times columnist and radio talk show host David Person asks the question: Is "struggle" still the best way to describe the Black experience?

Obama, Fields and other black politicians are winning over whites by embracing a quest for unity and understanding rooted in dialogue and accountability. In the process, however, they have placed themselves on a collision course with some black folks who continue to view white society and the U.S.

The Flint Journal reported that a lawsuit was brought against the local Urban League based on the touchy racial issue of light vs. dark:

A biracial employee, Jamie Kendall, sued the Urban League after not being promoted to CEO.

A recent EURweb commentary suggests that the impact of integration has been harmful to the Black community:

In America, Black people imagine that they have made progress. The truth is that in many ways, we have gone backwards. Our shining Black future should be to reverse integration, so that we can once again accustom ourselves to living with each other. The best part of integration cannot be taken away, especially if we recollect ourselves.

The release of the Cosby-Poussaint book, Come on People, has renewed the debate on just who/what is to blame for the problems plaguing Black communities. Some feel that the book does more harm than good:

This is hardly the call to action that can inspire and motivate underachieving blacks to improve their lives.

A recent Pew Research Center Economic Mobility of Black and White Families survey indicates that Blacks today are less upbeat about their economic prospects than previous generations.

The survey also finds blacks less upbeat about the state of black progress now than at any time since 1983. Looking backward, just one-in-five blacks say things are better for blacks now than they were five years ago.