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Black Love On The Big Screen, From the First On-Film Kiss to Today | Unpack That
Love, in its purest form, makes all of our hearts smile. As a black person, I must say, that there’s something so special, so unequivocally sincere about seeing black people being in love on the big screen. Sorry, not sorry. Here’s the thing: Unbeknownst to many, black love in film dates back to the beginning…
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Kelly Rowland Takes Us Through Her Iconic Mane Moments
One thing’s for sure: Kelly Rowland’s got lewks. From her pixie cut of the early 2000s, to her blunt bobs and now her natural ‘fro, Kelly’s hair has always made a statement. It is clear the singer-songwriter has a great sense of pride in her hair—in all of its forms. So naturally, Rowland is the…
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An Unexpected Adonis: Actor William Jackson Harper Has Found His 'Good Place'
By now, perhaps you’ve heard the name William Jackson Harper. For those of you who unfamiliar with him, allow me to offer this introduction: William Jackson Harper is best known as the actor who plays Chidi Anagonye—an indecisive, neurotic philosophy professor—on NBC’s The Good Place. After a decade of paying his dues on and off-Broadway,…
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#MuteRKelly: ‘Rally to Protect Black Girls’ Demands That RCA Drops R. Kelly
On Wednesday morning, protesters rallied outside of RCA studios in New York City with one message: Mute R. Kelly. “Rally to Protect Black Girls” was led by Color of Change, Girls for Gender Equity, the New York City chapter of the National Organization for Women, Black Women’s Blueprint, A Long Walk Home, CREDO Mobile and…
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Why Do We Silence Black Girls and Women Who are Survivors of Sexual Violence?
Today, conversations about sexual violence and harassment towards women have infiltrated popular culture, the news and beyond. But despite the prevalence of sexual violence towards black girls and women, we remain almost invisible in these conversations. You see, the legacy of sexual violence towards black women and our subsequent silencing runs deep. In her seminal…
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Kevin Hart Explains How He Flips the White Savior Narrative in The Upside
Months before his Oscar tweet debacle, The Root sat down with Kevin Hart to discuss his forthcoming film, The Upside, which is based on a true story that was adapted into a 2011 French film, The Intouchables. If you check out the film, expect a feel-good movie where Hart plays the character of Dell, an…
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Beale Street’s Regina King Breaks Down What It Means to Be a Vulnerable Black Woman
We often speak about the “strong black woman” archetype, but what does it mean to be a “vulnerable black woman?” The reality is that the two characteristics are a bit symbiotic—after all, it takes a great deal of strength to make one’s self vulnerable. As Sharon in If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King so…
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Barry Jenkins: Beale Street Explores How Black Love 'Can Help Us Weather These Storms'
Last year when promoting his Academy Award-winning film, Moonlight, director Barry Jenkins found himself at the Governor Awards for the Academy. It was kind of a big deal. He was heading to an after party (because it’s lit!) and trying to track down his driver. While waiting, the valet told Jenkins his driver called him…
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’Tis the Season: Here’s How Jesus Became So Widely Accepted as White
It’s no secret that Jesus Christ, known in Christian circles as the Son of God, is often depicted as a white man. But, how did the Son of God become so widely accepted as a European? After all, there are very few physical descriptions of Jesus in the bible. Keri L. Day, an associate professor…
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Your Politician's Got Tweets? This Black Woman Software Developer's Got Receipts
“African Americans and Hispanics, brown people, we are the driving force on the major social media platforms,” said software developer Diana Eromosele. “Isn’t it high time for us to get behind the wheel and create these applications?” And this black woman in tech is doing just that. Just more than three years ago, Eromosele worked…
