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Judge of Characters: Learning to Share the Culture When Black Panther Goes Beyond the Black Community
Black Panther has revolutionized superhero movies—well movies in general. The film with the predominantly black cast has broken records, sparked community service and inspired STEM center openings around the United States, and with that greatness comes the responsibility of sharing the culture. It’s very obvious that black people experience T’Challa and his kingdom in a…
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Anita Baker Slayed My Life, Fantasia Inspired an Altar Call and Trick Daddy Was King at Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival [Updated]
Updated, June 18, 2018 8:30 a.m.: The Root was a media sponsor of this event. “It’s the world’s biggest outdoor house party!” Kid from ’90s rap duo Kid ’n Play said when I caught the icons backstage at the Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival this past weekend. The two were part of the festival’s…
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David Oyelowo Opens Up About Racism in Hollywood in the Most Vulnerable Conversation Ever
David Oyelowo is often mistaken for an Oscar winner. Right now you’re probably like, wait, he doesn’t have an Oscar? And you’re checking Google. And … nope, no Oscar. But he does have several accolades that make him a trusted piece of Hollywood royalty. In fact, his besties Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey co-sign his…
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I’m Seeing Anita Baker, Y’all, and You Can, Too, at Jazz in the Gardens This Weekend
When someone asks you to attend a concert featuring Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Fantasia, Smokey Robinson and more, what do you do? You graciously accept the invite! And that is the story of how The Root became a media sponsor for the 13th annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival. As the fastest-growing jazz and…
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(Mrs.) Who Said It: The Cast of A Wrinkle in Time Quotes Oprah, Outkast and Rumi
Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle in Time is a fantastical journey. As we watch the star, Storm Reid (Meg), navigate an alternate universe in search of her father, we can’t help being in awe of her guides, the Mrs. These women—played by Oprah Winfrey (Mrs. Which), Reese Witherspoon (Mrs. Whatsit) and Mindy Kaling (Mrs. Who)—who offer…
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Watch: How Oprah and Ava DuVernay Escape the Darkness
One of the major themes of A Wrinkle in Time is the darkness and how it can consume you if you let it. But all it takes is just a little bit of light and some belief in yourself to make it out of the dark. Full Disclosure: Disney spent all the coins to invite…
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Meet the Mayor of Miami Gardens, Fla., One of the Largest Black-Run Cities in the Country
“Every night in my sleep, I need you beside me.” Imagine this line sung in the style of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” off-key but with the same amount of confidence that Dion’s golden vocals boast. That’s how Miami Gardens, Fla., Mayor Oliver Gilbert started our interview. Clearly, I was in for a…
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Judge of Characters: George Washington Took Teeth From the Mouths of Slaves
I’ve always been taught that the first president of the United States of America had wooden teeth because his gums were not fertile ground for strong, pearly whites. It was just common knowledge. But recently, writer Michael Coard revealed something that’s widely unknown: Washington’s dentures were made not of wood but of elephant/walrus tusks and,…
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Watch: Ava DuVernay’s Ultimate Dream Is to Make Room for Other People of Color in Hollywood
Ava DuVernay is no stranger to making history. She’s the first black woman to be nominated for a best director Golden Globe (Selma), she’s the first black woman to win a best director prize at Sundance, and the first black female director to have her film be nominated for an Oscar. And, now, DuVernay is…
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Watch: You Can Thank a Black Woman for Your Hulu Binge-Watching Habits
When we tell you to trust black women, it’s not just to shout our own praises. Black women have always been at the helm of anything great or convenient that you love. Seriously. Black women have changed eye surgery—shoutout to Dr. Patricia Bath! A black woman changed communication, creating the touch-tone phone, portable fax, caller…
