DCentric

‘One-drop rule’ persists Americans view biracial people as belong more to their minority group rather than as being equal members of both groups. This is according to a new study by a team of Harvard psychologists, who examined conscious and unconscious reactions of people. (Harvard Gazette)

D.C. Council To Scrutinize Hate Crime Reporting Nearly 85 percent of reported hate crimes in the District are based on the victim’s sexual orientation. The City Council will hold a hearing this week to find out whether police are doing a better job in reporting the crimes or if there is indeed an increase in hate crimes based on sexual orientation. (WAMU)

A Murder, 7 Convictions And Many Question Marks The brutal murder of a woman in an alley in 1980s D.C. left the city in shock. But some are questioning the guilt of one of the men convicted in the case, Christopher Turner. There was no physical evidence at the time of the trial, only eye witness accounts. A judge has recently ordered DNA tests of the woman’s clothing, and witnesses who signed statement recanting their 1980s testimony will go before a judge this fall. (NPR)

After the Latin bubble burst… Remember the Latin Explosion? What happened to it? Music critic and author Ed Morales writes that after Sept. 11, 2001, Americans were more inclined to push “other” cultures out, rather than embrace them. (The Star-Ledger)

Michigan’s Ban on Race in College Admission Ruled Illegal A federal appeals court struck down Michigan’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions. The ban, which was put into place as an amendment to the state constitution, had been approved by 58 percent of voters. The only way to change it would be through another statewide referendum, and “this places a big burden on minorities who object to it,” judges ruled.  (CBS News)