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Two African-Americans Awarded "Genius" Fellowships - African-Americans academics Roland Fryer and Tiya Miles were named 2011 recipients of MacArthur Fellowships, announced on Sept. 20, 2011. The fellowships, also known as "genius grants," were awarded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and reward individuals in a wide variety of disciplines who have shown "extraordinary originality and dedication" in their respective fields.(Photo: Courtesy the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

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Study: Young People More Comfortable Using Slurs Online - An Associated Press/MTV Poll released on Sept. 20 says that most teenagers and young adults consider offensive terms used online no big deal.(Photo: REUTERS/Adam Hunger)

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'Don’t Ask, Don't Tell' Ends - On Sept. 20., the controversial law that forced gay members of the U.S. military to hide their sexuality was repealed. Gay and lesbian members of the U.S. military may now openly state their sexuality.(Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO/LANDOV)

Photo By EPA/JIM LO SCALZO/LANDOV

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CBC Calls for J-O-B's - The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 41st Annual Legislative Conference began Wednesday in Washington, D.C., and throughout the weekend, the focus was on one of Black America’s most pressing issues: jobs.(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

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James Byrd's Killer Executed - Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed by lethal injection on Sept. 21 for what has been called one of the most notorious hate crimes in modern times: the death of James Byrd Jr. In 1998 Brewer and two other men were convicted for chaining Byrd’s legs to the back of their pick-up truck and dragging him for several miles until his head and arm had been ripped off.(Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan

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 Troy Davis Executed - Troy Anthony Davis was executed at 11:08 p.m. EST Wednesday, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block Georgia authorities from executing him for the murder of an off-duty police officer in 1989. Davis's case sparked numerous protests around the world as his supporters decried his 1991 death row conviction. (Photo: AP Photo/The Savannah Morning News)

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Black Consumer Power Peaks - A new report released on Sept. 22 by Nielsen and The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) says that African-American buying power is expected to peak in the next few years, reaching $1.1 trillion by 2015.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Vesta Williams Found Dead - Best known for her 1989 hit, "Congratulations," R&B singer Vesta Williams was found dead in a Los Angeles, California hotel room on Sept. 22. Williams was 48 years old.(Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

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UNCF’s An Evening of Stars - Celebrating its 32-year-history, UNCF’s An Evening of Stars aired on Sept. 25 on BET. Personal testimonies of success by UNCF students and performances by Erykah Badu and legendary songstress Patti LaBelle were some of the few highlights of the night.(Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Study: Black-White Marriages on The Rise - A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, and announced on Sept. 22, finds that interracial marriages have been on the rise since the 1980s.(Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)

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500 Black Leaders Entered The Classroom - Through Back to School With The HistoryMakers, prominent African-American figures shared their stories in schools across the nation on Sept. 23. Designed to put students in direct and sustained contact with high-profile mentorship and encourage youth to commit to excellence, popular Black names, from rapper-actor Common and poet Nikki Giovanni, to Former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young and author and filmmaker Antwone Fisher, participated.

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Obama Speaks With BET - In an exclusive interview with BET News that aired Monday night, Obama said he understands the economic pain that Blacks have been experiencing and answered his critics. When asked why he has not tried to implement policy solutions that specifically target African-Americans, however, he said that’s not how America works.(Photo: BET)

Photo By Photo: BET/ BET

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Michael Jackson Trial Starts - The trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death, opened Tuesday.(Photo: Irfan Khan-Pool/Getty Images)