'I'm for Slavery,' Boasts British Reality-Show Contestant

If reality TV bears any semblance to reality, British broadcaster Channel 4's lineup publicizes the country's need to improve race relations. "Shipwrecked," which premiered Sunday, features an 18-year-old contender who bemoans what she sees as cultural devastation imposed by black immigrants. This isn't the first time Channel 4 has gotten into trouble for broadcasting such overtly racist attitudes—so why hasn't anything changed? Read more.

Obama Did Not Attend Islamic School—Sorry, FOX News

Critics of Sen. Barack Obama have tried to disparage him by linking his name to Osama bin Laden and Islamic fundamentalism. One magazine alleged Obama attended a religious school that endorsed such principles, citing anonymous sources—a story conservative network FOX News elected to broadcast to the nation. Who cleared Obama's name, and did the Clinton camp have anything to do with smearing it? Read more.  

Blacks Should 'Get Over' Slavery, Says Va. Lawmaker

Amid public backlash for saying black citizens should "get over" slavery, Virginia lawmaker Frank Hargrove now is suggesting the state substitute a Juneteenth celebration—the holiday that marks the date the last slaves were freed—for an apology. Hargrove, an 80-year-old white Republican, argues no one responsible for slavery remains alive, which he says defeats the purpose of a formal act of contrition. Other black leaders in the state adamantly disagree. What's the harm in saying, "I'm sorry"? Read more.

'Folklore vs. Fact'—Who Decides?

A new construction project near Central Park to honor world-renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass has rekindled a historic debate about a secret code slaves may have woven into quilts to provide information to runaway slaves escaping to the North. Plans for the tribute include erecting an 8-foot-tall sculpture of Douglass, beneath which would rest a massive granite quilt with symbols woven into each patch and two plaques to explain what the code means. Some historians, however, have disputed the code's existence altogether and oppose memorializing this pioneer of racial justice with "myth," rather than fact. In this debate, who decides the "truth?" And more importantly, is this what matters most? Read more.

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