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LZ Granderson

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Does TV have a responsibility to show only safe gay sex?updated Fri Dec 05 2014 16:18:27

One minute and eight seconds.

Mia Love's inspirational life story updated Wed Nov 05 2014 17:18:39

I hope President Obama called to congratulate Mia Love.

Are we hypocrites over Renee Zellweger?updated Wed Oct 22 2014 18:53:09

Renee Zellweger looks different than she did 10 years ago.

Why conservatives blame Obama for Ebola updated Tue Oct 07 2014 07:20:43

If our children's children should die from Ebola here in the United States, President Obama would be to blame.

Is Obama tarnishing his legacy?updated Thu Sep 25 2014 13:08:23

"When the history is written of this era, this is how you'll be remembered: 'He was the first black president.' Okay, not a bad accomplishment, but that's it. That's it, Mr. Obama."-- Michael Moore

Congress, you can impeach Mark Fullerupdated Mon Sep 15 2014 15:47:00

The 911 tape is frightening.

Can peace come to Ferguson?updated Tue Aug 26 2014 08:17:18

The lines to get a seat inside Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church started forming before 8 a.m. By then the sun was already high and the air thick.

How many unarmed people have to die?updated Mon Aug 11 2014 07:41:07

I am tired.

What's screwed up about America's body imageupdated Mon Jul 28 2014 14:57:03

Robyn Lawley, an Australian plus-size model, is getting a cyber-standing ovation for posting unretouched and makeup-free photos of herself on Facebook in protest against the pathological airbrushing we've grown accustomed to in professional photography. It's a bold move for the 25-year-old, who was also a vocal critic of the recent Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Four dead boys: This is what war looks likeupdated Thu Jul 17 2014 13:46:16

Four young boys died Wednesday after the Gaza beach where they were playing was attacked by Israeli forces.

How Maya Angelou gave me lifeupdated Wed May 28 2014 14:40:02

I never had the chance to meet Maya Angelou. But she has been in my life all along.

Chicago needs help, not Obama libraryupdated Wed May 21 2014 10:32:50

The entryways to some of the University of Chicago dorms near the corner of East 61st and South Cottage Grove resemble the doors of a prison. And if you look around, it's clear that instead of trying to keep trouble locked in, the 123-year-old private school is trying to keep trouble out.

Same-sex marriage foes join flat Earthers, birthers updated Wed May 14 2014 08:07:44

Remember the birthers?

LZ: The hypocrisy of L.A. NAACP updated Wed Apr 30 2014 18:32:04

The NAACP needs to sit down.

Racist remarks aren't the real problemupdated Fri Apr 25 2014 14:14:28

Bashing Cliven Bundy for his remarks regarding race is like LeBron James dunking on a 5-foot rim: Pointless.

How Mozilla botched CEO's ousterupdated Fri Apr 04 2014 18:38:41

We've all done things in our past we might prefer the general public not talk about, but only the lucky few get to be the targets of whole industries dedicated to digging those things up.

Will Christians condemn persecution of gays?updated Sun Mar 30 2014 09:57:21

Pope Francis sent shock waves around the globe last July when in addressing the issue of gays in the church, he opted not to remind his 1.6 billion followers about the fiery pits of hell but instead posed a question: "Who am I to judge?"

Beyonce, what have you done?updated Wed Mar 12 2014 17:48:57

There are two Web clips featuring Beyonce that have been getting a lot of attention.

In helping young black men, Obama helps allupdated Fri Feb 28 2014 09:26:32

In the fall of 1995, I jumped into a large van with about 20 other young black men, and we headed out from the small college town of Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Washington.

Whose fault for drinking and dying?updated Fri Feb 21 2014 12:35:20

A 36-year-old man goes out with some friends.

What Jerry Seinfeld doesn't get about diversityupdated Fri Feb 07 2014 08:19:31

"I don't want a Black History Month."

When a city's gun laws get shot downupdated Fri Jan 24 2014 08:53:38

Kevin Baker, a student at Harold Washington College in Chicago, and his cousin, a senior at DePaul University, were walking home from school one day last week in the city's Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Have you seen the year's best film?updated Fri Jan 17 2014 08:46:03

The image of Solomon Northup's body hanging from a tree -- noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back, feet barely touching the ground -- is uncomfortable to look at.

It hurts to lose Red Lobster, but money is tightupdated Tue Dec 31 2013 06:50:37

I grew up a poor kid in Detroit.

'Duck Dynasty' star's free speech rights weren't violatedupdated Thu Dec 19 2013 15:06:40

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal got involved in the "Duck Dynasty" controversy Thursday by tweeting his response to A&E's decision to suspend Phil Robertson for his inflammatory remarks in a recent GQ interview.

Tea party, GOP need a divorceupdated Wed Dec 18 2013 09:14:09

Despite objections from popular Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, it seem the much-criticized budget deal will get final congressional approval this week, sidestepping the cooked-up dramas that have come to define the 113th Congress.

Why are black murder victims put on trial?updated Fri Nov 15 2013 14:35:55

Renisha McBride's toxicology report is out and now we know the 19-year-old had a blood-alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit for driving. This would explain why, according to her family, she was involved in a single-car accident.

'Man up' -- the fear that keeps men from acting humanupdated Thu Nov 07 2013 11:37:32

You know those electronic collars that zap dogs that stray outside their electronic fences?

The bridegroom who couldn't marryupdated Sat Oct 26 2013 11:07:40

Winamac, Indiana, is pretty much how it sounds.

America's problem: We're too dumbupdated Mon Oct 14 2013 07:33:38

I'm a sucker for all of those man-on-the-street interviews that late-night shows do to reveal just how dumb Americans are.

Kanye, Miley and the death of the divaupdated Thu Oct 10 2013 11:48:28

In the third act of the opera "Aida," there is an aria, "O Patria Mia," that begins, "Oh, my country, I shall never see you again."

Stop demonizing people who need aidupdated Mon Sep 30 2013 09:23:24

If volunteer work is a requirement, is it really volunteer?

Negligent parents, lawbreaking kidsupdated Thu Aug 22 2013 08:42:27

A detail in the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Shaaliver Douse by a New York Police Department officer earlier this month has been stopping me from grieving his death.

The man black history erasedupdated Wed Aug 21 2013 10:25:49

On August 13, 1963, in a last ditch effort to derail the pending March on Washington, Strom Thurmond took the Senate floor and hurled a series of vicious, personal attacks against the man organizing the largest protest in U.S. history.

A boy named 'Messiah'?updated Tue Aug 13 2013 17:25:32

I once met a mother who named her newborn daughter Kia Sophia.

Haunting lesson of Nazi Olympicsupdated Wed Aug 07 2013 14:37:23

Usually when we talk about the 1936 Olympics in Berlin we focus on two men -- Adolf Hitler and Jesse Owens -- and rightfully so. They are the two with an undeniable impact on history, albeit in vastly different ways.

At 25, Limbaugh show still rules GOPupdated Thu Aug 01 2013 08:53:19

If you want to know why there's little cooperation in Washington these days, I'd start with a campaign promise made in 1988 by presidential candidate George H.W. Bush.

What's motivating some of Obama's black critics?updated Tue Jul 23 2013 17:23:25

Tavis Smiley: Bitter, party of one.

Trayvon could have been my sonupdated Sun Jul 14 2013 09:05:27

Hours before the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict was announced, my partner and I were discussing ways to prevent our 16-year-old son from getting shot while jogging in the upper-middle-class, predominantly white neighborhood we had recently moved into.

Randy Travis taught me countryupdated Thu Jul 11 2013 06:59:51

Of all the parts that make up my somewhat quirky life, there are few things that raise a stranger's eyebrows faster than discovering I love country music.

Why isn't there Straight Pride month? updated Thu Jun 13 2013 07:30:50

On North Halsted Street, between Buckingham and Roscoe in Chicago, a monument stands with a plaque in honor of a brilliant thinker who is as responsible for the way we live our lives today as any person who has ever lived.

Why Michelle Obama got heckledupdated Wed Jun 05 2013 14:39:03

I'm a big fan of Michelle Obama's, but if she's going to be hitting the circuit to raise money for Democrats, she has to be prepared for heckling. Especially heckling from gay rights activists like the one who interrupted her speech Tuesday night.

Bachmann exit helps GOP scrub stupid awayupdated Wed May 29 2013 17:15:47

Remember when Sarah Palin was the face of the Republican Party?

The courage of teachersupdated Tue May 21 2013 14:18:54

Each day more than 55 million students attend the country's 130,000 schools.

If Clarence Thomas isn't 'elite,' who is?updated Tue May 07 2013 18:18:18

Supreme Court justices are in the top 10% of earners in this country. They attended the best universities and have access to the best health care, a pension plan unaffected by the economy and oh, by the way, immense power.

What's racist about a talking goat?updated Thu May 02 2013 16:03:27

I went online this morning to see the Mountain Dew ad -- the one some are calling the most racist in history -- expecting to see some really offensive stuff. Instead, I saw some really silly stuff.

Treat Chicago gangs as terroristsupdated Wed Apr 24 2013 11:46:04

You know things in Chicago are bad when 70 murders in the first quarter can be seen as a good thing. But context is everything: Last year at this time there had been more than 120 murders, so I guess we should thank God for small favors.

It can happen anywhereupdated Mon Apr 15 2013 20:53:34

If September 11, 2001, was the day everything changed, then April 15, 2013, serves as another reminder of that change, of our frailties and of a new reality in which "it can't happen here" has been replaced by "it can happen anywhere."

Brad Paisley's risky song on raceupdated Tue Apr 09 2013 12:12:03

In 2009, Brad Paisley released the song "Welcome to the Future" from his album "American Saturday Night."

Bigotry drags marriage back to Supreme Courtupdated Wed Mar 27 2013 11:46:56

Late one night, in the summer of 1958, three police officers opened an unlocked door of a small home in rural Virginia, walked into the bedroom and pointed a flashlight at a couple sleeping in the bed.

GOP, confront your racism problem updated Tue Mar 19 2013 17:16:18

When President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he reportedly said Democrats would lose the South for a generation. At the time, 115 of the 128 senators and representatives from the 11 former Confederate states were white Democrats.

Men don't have it all eitherupdated Wed Mar 13 2013 07:19:33

Can women have it all?

10 years later, Dixie Chicks right all alongupdated Tue Mar 05 2013 12:27:27

Two days past 18

Governors, stop bashing liberal artsupdated Wed Feb 20 2013 11:26:42

It seems everyone knows a college degree is important but few have a plan to keep it affordable.

Rubio missed the year of the womanupdated Wed Feb 13 2013 11:54:18

You would think that in the shadow of a general election dubbed "Year of the Woman," the last thing any Republican in Washington would want to do is tick off women.

Obama, stop trying to appease unfair criticsupdated Mon Feb 04 2013 16:56:27

When then Sen. Obama was running for president, many of his critics accused him of being a Muslim -- as if being a Muslim in a country that prides itself for its freedom of religion is a bad thing.

More gun mayhem -- and yet we wait for actionupdated Thu Jan 31 2013 18:33:11

On Tuesday, a man identified by authorities as Jimmy Lee Dykes boarded a school bus as it stopped to drop off children and demanded two students. Police say that when the bus driver, Charles Albert Poland, refused, Dykes -- who was arrested last month, accused of shooting at neighbors in a dispute over a speed bump -- shot Poland four times, killing him. As I'm writing this, he is in a standoff with police, who say he's holding someone's 5-year-old boy hostage in his underground doomsday bunker.

Joe, make way for Hillaryupdated Tue Jan 29 2013 11:07:54

Watching the President Obama-Hillary Clinton love fest on "60 Minutes" was more like witnessing an infomercial than an interview.

Bob Schieffer must be straightupdated Tue Jan 22 2013 15:44:07

Well, that settles it: CBS' Bob Schieffer must be straight.

Despite Newtown, we crave violent moviesupdated Mon Jan 14 2013 12:10:05

The first statuette of the 70th annual Golden Globe awards went to Christoph Waltz, whose character in "Django Unchained" shot two men and a horse in two scenes before I even opened my box of M&M's.

Teachers with guns is a crazy ideaupdated Wed Dec 19 2012 07:38:42

I wish I were surprised that Texas Gov. Rick Perry doesn't see a problem with concealed weapons in schools, but after watching his failed bid for the presidency, the truth is there's very little that man can say that will truly surprise me.

Parents' promise: I will keep you safeupdated Sat Dec 15 2012 09:26:38

December 13, 1996.

Drunken driving is not about the NFLupdated Tue Dec 11 2012 13:04:10

Over the past few days we've heard a lot of criticism directed at the National Football League after the arrest of a Dallas Cowboy player on an intoxication manslaughter charge. And justifiably so: A 25-year-old father-to-be who was riding in the player's car is dead.

Rihanna making a bad decision?updated Wed Dec 05 2012 07:40:01

Recently it has seemed that every other tweet or Instagram posted by pop star Rihanna taunts the public with an uncomfortable thought: Singer Chris Brown, the man who beat her so badly in 2009 that was she was almost unrecognizable, may once again be her lover.

For 2016, Bush vs. Clintonupdated Tue Nov 27 2012 07:05:13

For all of our post-2012 election talk about the changing culture, the changing demographics and, perhaps, a changing party, preliminary thoughts out of D.C. about the 2016 election have us headed toward not much change at all: Clinton vs Bush ... again.

Pink, a true pop artistupdated Tue Nov 20 2012 12:16:27

One day, many years from now, future generations will look back at this time in our country's history and wonder what in the hell were we thinking.

Democrats, don't get too cockyupdated Tue Nov 13 2012 14:13:39

While there is still a lot of talk about how the Republican Party needs to reinvent itself, Democrats should keep in mind they could use a touch-up themselves.

Why not legalize pot?updated Tue Oct 30 2012 00:46:22

I have smoked pot.

Stop coddling people who behave badlyupdated Thu Oct 18 2012 08:56:43

I am conflicted about the YouTube video clip of 25-year-old Shidea Lane getting punched in the face by a male bus driver in Cleveland. So many words come to mind, but I have to admit that "victim" isn't one of them.

What's wrong with affirmative action -- and why we need itupdated Sat Oct 13 2012 10:35:14

If I had a nickel each time a white guy e-mails or tweets that I have my job because I'm black, I wouldn't need the job, because I'd be rich.

Oops, I left my sexual orientation at homeupdated Wed Oct 03 2012 08:34:16

This morning, I decided to wear jeans.

Romney hasn't earned our trustupdated Wed Sep 12 2012 07:50:07

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been asking random people who identify as Republicans if they trust Mitt Romney, and each of them gave me an answer like this -- "I trust him more than I trust Obama." It's just a long winded way of saying "no."

Why do school sports start before classes do?updated Wed Aug 08 2012 08:48:08

The first "cup" was used in hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

The right way and the wrong way to protest Chick-fil-Aupdated Tue Jul 31 2012 07:34:17

Not since that cranky old lady asked "where's the beef?" has a fast food chain had an ad as funny as the Chick-fil-A cows begging people to "Eat Mor Chikin."

When Christians are their own worst enemiesupdated Tue Jul 24 2012 07:49:50

For all of the rhetoric about Christianity being under attack in this country, oftentimes it feels no one does a better job of hurting Christianity than the people who call themselves Christians. Especially after a national tragedy.

Mississippi's end run around abortionupdated Wed Jul 11 2012 19:02:42

Mississippi may be the fattest state in the country. And it may be among the least educated and have provided the backdrop to some of the country's most heinous displays of racism.

Kid, you are not specialupdated Tue Jun 12 2012 08:09:29

When my son was in middle school, I remember attending one of his school band concerts that wasn't very good.

Poor and fat: The real class warupdated Tue Jun 05 2012 08:29:09

Over the past year we've heard a lot about class warfare, the "Buffett Rule" and the tax code and so on. But if you want to see a blatant form of poor vs. rich, walk into a grocery store. Here we are forced to decide between what's good for our kids and what we can afford to feed them.

No contradiction: I'm black and gayupdated Tue May 22 2012 08:08:12

It feels as if I've been living a double life all of these years, and I do not want to deceive you, or myself, any longer. The burden has become too heavy, the struggle to deny my true self, too great.

In election, 'a seat at the table' costs $5,000updated Tue May 15 2012 07:47:02

President Obama appeared at two recent fundraisers with some serious sticker shock.

Will Romney use gay marriage issue against Obama?updated Thu May 10 2012 10:53:29

For the better part of four years, voters have said the No. 1 issue is the economy.

Obama keeps his conscience in the closetupdated Tue May 08 2012 07:18:07

Let's be clear about one thing: Vice President Joe Biden's recent comment about being OK with marriage equality did not place the president in a difficult situation.

Why 'Hope and Change' is dead, 'Forward' livesupdated Tue May 01 2012 09:29:31

During the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, Jimmy Kimmel made a joke that President Obama laughed at, but that you could see was just killing him inside.

Boy Scouts feel a mother's wrathupdated Tue Apr 24 2012 11:53:30

Jennifer Tyrrell dislikes public speaking so much that when she was in high school, she almost failed marketing because she didn't want to speak in front of the class.

Ted Nugent should be in jailupdated Wed Apr 18 2012 19:02:59

Ted Nugent should be arrested.

The best thing I've done for my sonupdated Tue Apr 17 2012 07:22:04

We do a lot for -- and to -- our children in the name of parenting. I know when I get it kinda right, I know when I get it mostly wrong, and I know when I've been lucky. I will tell you that giving my teenage son a debit check card last summer was the best thing I've ever done for him. I will also tell you that move was pure luck.

Violence and race: a two-way streetupdated Wed Apr 11 2012 07:40:46

Within the next day or two we could hear from the special prosecutor's office about her decision on whether to charge George Zimmerman.

Why Madonna still leads, others followupdated Fri Apr 06 2012 07:48:05

I thought she was over. Madonna, that is.

Justice, not revenge, for Trayvonupdated Tue Mar 27 2012 07:36:28

As the rallies for Trayvon Martin grow, as the media coverage surrounding the tragedy deepens and as the calls for justice get louder, we all must remember one thing: Revenge and justice are not the same thing.

Why black people don't trust the policeupdated Thu Mar 22 2012 19:06:07

I don't trust cops and I don't know many black people who do.

The fastest-growing job in Americaupdated Tue Mar 13 2012 08:51:57

I have a good friend in New York who turned the upstairs of her house into a bed and breakfast to help make ends meet -- a great idea on paper. My girlfriend was not a morning person. But she is now -- up and making breakfast with a smile -- because she likes the lights staying on more than she dislikes alarm clocks. She also has a consulting company and gives speeches.

Will Iran cost Obama the presidency?updated Tue Mar 06 2012 07:26:34

I'm sure if President Barack Obama were stuck between a rock and a hard place, that would be preferable to the spot he currently finds himself in.

Republicans' war on common senseupdated Tue Feb 28 2012 07:59:43

In politics, we're all used to seeing various "cards" being played to fire up voters and gain the upper hand. 

Does 'secure the border' mean 'keep America white'?updated Tue Feb 21 2012 07:34:13

In case you plan to see Wednesday's GOP debate, allow me to offer up some crib notes so you don't get lost.

Michigan to Romney: Go awayupdated Tue Feb 14 2012 07:36:28

One very clear reason why Mitt Romney is far from a lock to win the Michigan primary, despite his ties to the state, is that he's not really tied to the state.

Whitney's death: Sad, but no shockupdated Mon Feb 13 2012 12:23:54

I had just pulled up in front of my hotel in Los Angeles when I heard Whitney Houston had died at the Beverly Hilton, just a few blocks from where I was staying. I sat motionless in the car for a brief moment, not in shock, but temporarily paralyzed by a profound sense of sadness.

'Strip club bill' a no-brainerupdated Tue Feb 07 2012 08:30:06

I believe it was the great American philosopher Kenny Rogers, who, while meditating on the nuances of Darwinism, gave the world this piece of advice: