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Photographer Afshin Shahidi Gives the World ‘a Private View’ of Prince’s Life
Prince has had numerous photographers over the years, but there’s one who stuck out to the Purple One from the day they met: Afshin Shahidi. If his name is familiar, it’s because you know and adore his beautiful daughter, Yara Shahidi, who shines as Zoe on Black-ish and will continue to sprinkle her Black Girl…
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Meghan Markle Snagged Her a Prince and Black Twitter Is Here for It
“Princess Meghan”—it’s got a nice ring to it! Let me start first by saying yasss for anyone who can find love in a hopeless place … aka the world, which is literally self-destructing. There was a bombing in Egypt and a volcano erupting in Bali, Indonesia; Donald Trump doesn’t believe news is real; Taylor Swift’s…
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We Should All Live by ‘The Gospel According to Shug Avery’
You should know the name Shug Avery. She’s only one of the biggest and boldest characters from one of Alice Walker’s most famous works, The Color Purple. There are certain movies that stand the test of time, and The Color Purple is one of those classics. There’s something so special about gathering with family for…
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Judge of Characters: Thanksgiving While Black
While we are all fully aware of the foundation of lies that Thanksgiving was built on, we’ve managed to turn the holiday into a celebrated time with food and family. [Whispers.] But we’ll never forget. First of all, there are generations of beautiful blackness all in one house, whether it’s Grandma’s house or, in my…
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Watch: Jemele Hill Says Our Progress Is ‘3 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back’
“We perceive color and report on black athletes, men and women, differently.” —Jemele Hill Jemele Hill’s name has been hashtagged, dragged and praised heavily this year, and here at The Root, we honor her for her contributions to journalism. As a black female sports journalist, Hill realizes how black athletes are perceived, and she’s bringing…
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Thanksgiving and Chill: All the Shows to Binge-Watch Before You Get ‘The Itis’
It’s that time of year again. White folks are clamoring at Starbucks for their pumpkin-spice lattes, and black folks are calling around to make sure Aunt Sheila is still making her signature turkey this year … it’s Thanksgiving! And while many of us side-eye the massacre and theft masquerading as a family-friendly holiday, we’ve managed…
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Watch: Dee Rees Says It’s Not Enough to Just Be a Black Woman; You Must Be Excellent
Dee Rees is out here making movies that stick to your ribs. From Pariah to Bessie to her latest, Mudbound, which was released on Netflix Friday. It’s because of these amazing films that Rees was recognized on The Root 100 as an honoree, holding down the 42nd spot. Full Disclosure: Netflix flew The Root to…
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Judge of Characters: Trump Helps Black People Now?
To hear the authorities tell it, UCLA basketball players LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley all decided that stealing from a store while their team was in China was the best idea ever, and they were subsequently caught, arrested and faced 10 years in a Chinese prison. But then the impossible happened! Your president,…
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Mudbound Is Another Exhausting Tale of Inequality and Racism in America, but at Least It Was Executed Properly
When there’s historical blackness in film, it’s usually displayed through slavery or Jim Crow. There’s never really any in between. But there is a very palpable significance in remembering, reliving and recognizing black history and respecting how far we’ve come (even though 2017 mirrors the past more times than we’re comfortable with). I guess that’s…
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Watch: Angela Rye Makes Power Moves at The Root 100 Gala
“I was being Taylor Swift and you just Kanye’d me,” Angela Rye said, scolding her The Root 100 gala co-host, Extra’s A.J. Calloway. Only someone as strong-willed as Rye could use “Kanye” as a verb. But what else do you do when you’re having your shining moment and A.J. Calloway comes up, attempting to take that…
