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Black Labor's Laborious Road Ahead
The economy hasn't been kind to organized labor -- especially black organized labor.
The Top Five Labor Victories for Black and Brown Folks
Today, only one in 10 workers belongs to a labor union. But the labor movement is by no means dead. The Root takes a look at five battles that demonstrate that the labor movement could be primed for a comeback.
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GALLERY: The Top Black Labor Union Leaders
Before sleeping-car porters organized in 1925, most labor unions excluded blacks. Today 20 percent of black workers belong to a union, and black members' median salary is 36 percent more than that of non-members. The Root celebrates black labor leaders, past and present.
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Journal-isms: First Significant Decline in Illegal Immigrants in 20 Years
From March 2007 to March 2009, the annual flow of illegal immigrants into the United States was two-thirds smaller than it was from March 2000 to March 2005.
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How Iraq Ties Bush and Obama Together
Even in keeping a campaign promise to get the troops out of Iraq, the president finds himself tied to the legacy of George W. Bush.
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Jay Mariotti Gets a Taste of His Own Medicine
A merciless critic of primarily African-American athletes finds little sympathy after his own arrest for an alleged incident of domestic violence.
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The GOP Crows at Obama
Vox Africanus weighs in on Republican criticism of the president.
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Can Nonviolence Change the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict?
As peace talks begin, President Obama should see Budrus, a film that captures a case where Palestinians borrowed tactics from the civil rights movement.
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GALLERY: Would a Black Person Get Away With This?
The Root takes a look at a handful of brow-raising incidents and asks if race and privilege influenced the outcome.
The Root Interview: Esperanza Spalding on Taking a Big Risk
Jazz is in a free fall; record sales continue to plummet. Can jazz's hottest new talent buck the trend?
Fisk Says It Must Sell O'Keeffe Art Collection to Survive
In October, a judge will decide whether saving one means sacrificing the other.
Single-Minded: Being Black Abroad
Sometimes it takes going halfway around the world to find yourself.
We Don't Need Another Civil Rights Movement
We have become so distrustful of the political process that we think marches and cultural transformations will solve our problems.
The Root Interview: Sonny Rollins
As he prepares for a rare live concert, the living legend riffs on the nature of jazz, his spiritual concerns and why it's important for young people to embrace the music.
Plaxico Burress' Punishment Doesn't Fit the Crime
His former teammate LaVar Arrington comes to his defense.
'Louis': Music Over Movie Making
Sometimes, marvelous music makes a mediocre movie seem better than it actually is.
The Surge Didn't Work
It’s a hard thing for any president to tell the country it's time “to turn the page.” But as U.S. troops continue to exit Iraq, it’s clear that the illusion of control is now a thing of the past.
Lena Horne: Rediscovering a Legend
Civil rights legend, Hollywood royalty. Her new, posthumous CD collection of previously unreleased tracks proves that she could blow, too.
Instead of Marching, Let's End the War on Drugs
Changing the policy that has broken up families and put thousands of men in prison would have a far more positive impact on the black community than any number of symbolic marches.
U.S. Culture Wars Matter in the Middle East, Too
Forget about the protests against the mosque near Ground Zero; the threat to burn the Quran on Sept. 11 is what could incite serious conflict in the Middle East.
The Myth That Charter Schools Have Saved New Orleans
The national media have praised the decision to let educators flood the Crescent City with charter schools, but the results don't match the hype.
Time to End the Criminal-Punishment Binge
Mass incarceration has not reduced crime, but it has made prison a more common experience for poor black men than joining a union or doing military service.
There Was Nothing Good About Katrina
Policymakers should stop suggesting that Hurricane Katrina provided an opportunity to improve New Orleans. It disrespects the 2,000 lives lost -- and the gains are not clear, says a reporter who has covered the recovery process.
Download The Root's iPhone App
Get the latest news, analysis, podcasts and blogs with a black perspective from The Root's new iPhone app. Available now.
The Emmys: The Twitterverse Speaks
Not much color at the Primetime Emmy Awards this year, and the Tweeps had plenty to say about it. That, plus Laurence Fishburne, Al Pacino, Jimmy Fallon's 40-ounce "tribute" to Law and Order, and more ...
What Is Sharia, Exactly?
Some critics of plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero warn that the imam behind it wants to bring Islamic Sharia law to the U.S. Before we decide to fear it, let's at least understand what Sharia means.
Sharpton's Reclaim the Dream Rally Recalls the 1963 March
For many participants, it was a chance to recapture the flavor of the event that changed the nation.
Not Much Talk About MLK at Glenn Beck Rally
The surprisingly apolitical Restoring Honor gathering focused on religion and the troops.
Single-Minded: True Blood's Tara, the BBF
The HBO vampire show's Tara Thornton, in all her damaged but fiercely human glory, may finally become more than just another black best friend.
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Kanye West Tweets Apology to Taylor Swift
West shows remorse exactly one week before the MTV Video Music Awards.
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Two Boats Capsize in Congo: 70 Dead, 200 Missing
Investigators are trying to discover what caused two tragic incidents.
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Richard Williams: Blacks Still Not Welcome in Tennis
The pipeline of talented African-American tennis players will remain thin until blacks have their own tennis academy, says the father of Venus and Serena.
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Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Freezes Up During Interview
The woman with so much to say about illegal immigration falls silent.
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Regina King: 'Emmys As White As Ever'
King pens a letter on the Huffington Post about the lack of color at the Emmys.
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D.C. Mayor Fenty Apologizes for 'Aloof Management Style'
The Black Snob asks the question, "Is this a kindler, gentler Fenty?"
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Leela James' Music Takes Us Back to the Future
Her latest cut "Tell Me You Love Me" helps remind us of the relevancy of soul music.
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Tom Joyner Launching Online School for HBCUs
One of the most ardent supporters of HBCUs gets in on the business side.
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Sean Bell's Widow May Run for Office
The New York Daily News is reporting that Nicole Paultre-Bell may be turning to politics.
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The Nation's Dave Zirin Calls Out Bud Selig on Arizona
The Nation's Dave Zirin likens him to Glenn Beck.
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GOP Crows at Obama
Vox Africanus weighs in on Republican criticism of the president.
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Double Standard: Is Weight Watchers Biased Against Overweight People?
Woman claims the weight loss giant discriminates against obese people.
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Justice Department Sues Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Civil Rights Probe
There's a new sheriff in town.
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Interview: Elizabeth Gates Talks About Surviving a Stroke in Her 20s
In a CBS interview, the daughter of The Root's Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. tells the story of her stroke and ongoing recovery.
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