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Can We Live While Black?
It’s no secret that there’s a fear of a black planet. This fear is so pervasive, so insidious, that black people are being reprimanded for merely living. Recently, #WhileBlack has taken off. Social media is bringing attention to various overtly racist instances when existing in white spaces is perceived to be a threat. “I don’t…
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Wynton Marsalis Talks Race in America, Jazz and Keeping Music ‘Ever Fonky’
Some might call nine-time Grammy Award winner Wynton Marsalis a musical genius. But that’s not a label Marsalis is interested in wearing. “Well, I don’t know anything about genius, but I know to try to be serious about it [making music],” Marsalis told The Root. “I don’t know about no genius.” The decorated jazz musician…
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LGBTQ Icons Define What ‘Pride’ Means to Them
Editor’s note: For Pride Month, The Root and Jezebel are teaming up once again for JezeRoot, with content by writers of color around everyday life for LGBTQ individuals. Pride Month is here, and JezeRoot is back! This month, we celebrate the beauty and vastness of the LGBTQ community and its contributions to this world—and what…
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Here’s Why Black Women Take the High Road
This week, Roseanne Barr—a bona fide racist—was outed, fired and hung out to dry. Former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett was the butt of a tasteless, racist joke. And at MSNBC’s Everyday Racism town hall, Jarrett had a few words for Barr. “I think we have to turn it into a teaching moment,” Jarrett said.…
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White Woman Calls Police on Bob Marley’s Granddaughter After She Didn’t Smile. Now the Filmmaker Wants Justice
After someone called the police, seven cop cars rolled up on a group of black filmmakers, including the granddaughter of Bob Marley, Donisha Prendergast. The group was renting an Airbnb in Rialto, Calif. Now they want justice. Prendergast recently spoke out at a New York press conference. “Just because I wasn’t bowed and handcuffed against…
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Misty Copeland on How She Ended Up in Drake’s ‘Nice for What’ Video
Misty Copeland is making boss moves. In 2015 she charmed the world as the first black woman to become a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. She won the hearts of little black girls as the Firebird Barbie. And the ballerina made her foray into fashion four years ago when she partnered with athletic…
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Watch: Travis Reinking and the Invisible White Man
This week, another white guy with guns went on a rampage and senselessly killed innocent victims. On April 22, 2018, Travis Reinking entered a Tennessee Waffle House wearing only a jacket, killed four people and escaped butt naked. After a 24-hour manhunt that involved more than 160 officers, he was finally captured. Reinking had many…
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Watch: Police Slam Former NFL Player Desmond Marrow
Former NFL player Desmond Marrow appears to be the latest victim of another brutal police arrest. “You fucking slammed my head,” said Marrow to Henry County, Ga., police during his violent December 2017 encounter. Moments later, police forced Marrow to the ground and appeared to put him in a chokehold. He continued, “I can’t breathe,…
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Watch: King’s Mountaintop, 50 Years Later
When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, the news shocked the world. The day before, King gave his last speech, known today as the “Mountaintop” speech—one that some would call a prophecy. The civil rights leader went to Memphis, Tenn., to shed light on…
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Watch: Patti LaBelle Is Everyone’s Favorite Mom
There’s something about Mrs. Wayne from A Different World. She was a black mother personified: Adele Wayne would put you in check, was protective of her kin (Chipmunk!), witty and intelligent, and boy, could Mrs. Wayne cook. In her role as Adele Wayne, Patti LaBelle did that. Over the decades, the legendary singer has played…
