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Watch: How Did the Stars of The Birth of a Nation Practice Self-Care While Shooting This Intense Film?
Black trauma stems back as far back as slavery. Knowing that our ancestors were treated worse than animals—brutalized, dehumanized and demeaned—and that this terrible legacy of racism has carried on to our modern and “progressive” times is a painful truth that we must face every day. When movies like The Birth of a Nation are…
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30 New and Old Books by Black Authors You Should Read
The written word is not only informative, it’s transformative. For as long as I can remember, words have always been an escape for me. During the summer, my mom would take me to the library, where I’d get lost in the shelves for hours, pulling down books, sitting right on the floor and reading them.…
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10 Stunning Images From The Birth of a Nation
Nate Parker’s controversial The Birth of a Nation comes out Friday, and while many are shunning his directorial debut in light of his personal life, there’s no denying how important this film is. One thing Parker’s reiterated all over the media is that this movie is bigger than he is. After screening the film at…
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Nate Parker Is Ready to Move On From His Past and Wants the Focus on Nat Turner
The Birth of a Nation is set for release Oct. 7, and despite its impressive, history-making reputation, it’s the film’s director and lead actor Nate Parker’s past rape allegations that have dominated the most recent headlines rather than the very important story of preacher-turned-freedom fighter Nat Turner. “This is a film about freedom … resistance,” Parker exclusively…
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Loving Tells One of the Most Important Love Stories in Black History
Imagine being cuddled with your loved one in bed, in the middle of the night. It’s peaceful, and the warmth of your spouse’s body sends goosebumps all down your skin. And then, boom! You’re both shaken awake by a police officer kicking down your door and yelling, “Get out of bed!” because your marriage is…
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On Reclaiming ‘Boy’ and Giving Young Black Men Something to Celebrate
A few days ago I was so inspired by Chance the Rapper’s unfiltered and unwavering joy during MTV’s Video Music Awards that I had to write about it. And after chatting, my co-workers and I came up with the idea to hashtag #BlackBoyJoy. This tag already existed on social media, often used at the ends…
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The Root Creates #BlackBoyJoy and the Internet Is Rejoicing
When I told my editor that I fell in love with Chance the Rapper because of the MTV Video Music Awards over the weekend and I wanted to write a piece about his joy—which was undeniable—I had no idea that the internet would embrace it the way it has and that Chance himself would join…
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Thanks to Chance the Rapper, #BlackBoyJoy Is a Thing
Chance the Rapper is awesome. Not only does he have the kind of music that makes hip-hop exciting again, with his horns, his elastic lyricism and his constant praise of the most high, but he’s also got the kind of personality that can’t be ignored. He’s lovable, humble and hilarious. All of the goodness of…
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It’s Been 11 Years Since Hurricane Katrina Ravaged New Orleans
When the rain started on Aug. 23, 2005, in New Orleans, many residents weren’t worried. The swampy bayou was used to wet weather. However, days later, when the weather didn’t let up and the storm surged from a threat to an absolute promise to ravage the Southern city, those residents were worried … and trapped.…
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The Cast of OWN's Queen Sugar Explains Why Being a Part of This All-Black Production Is Important
It isn’t often that two mystical beings kick it in the same space. You never see a baby unicorn and Idris Elba on the same day. But it happened recently when the mystical black goddess that is Oprah Winfrey and God’s favorite film director, Ava DuVernay, combined their forces to make OWN’s Queen Sugar. Winfrey…
