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Watch: George Clinton Says, ‘We’ve Always Been Afropunk’
George Clinton is not one to funk with. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has spent most of his life performing. First inspired by Frankie Lymon, Clinton got his start in the 1950s. And his iconic band, Parliament Funkadelic, came to prominence nearly two decades later. At the time, Clinton created his own…
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The DNC Is Over, but the Memes Continue
History was made at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and the internet had no chill. To say that Hillary Clinton, as the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major political party, has broken barriers might be a gross understatement. And for four nights, social media watched, listened and tweeted. Thank…
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Wyclef Jean: Only Idiots Would Be Saying, ‘Why Do Black Lives Matter?’
Given the racial tension in the nation (and the world) and the ongoing Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter debate, outspoken performer Wyclef Jean has a few choice words: “Only idiots would be saying, ‘Why do black lives matter?’” The Root sat down with the Grammy Award-winning artist and producer at Ozy Fusion Fest. Jean…
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Issa Rae: ‘We Need to Remember That Black People Are Human’
What a time to be black in America. “Obviously all lives matter, but black lives are the ones that are at risk right now,” said actress, director and writer Issa Rae. “Black lives are constantly being attacked.” Rae has vociferously spoken out against the violence toward, and disregard for, black people in America. Recently she…
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9 Hilarious RNC Memes
Thursday night will mark the official end to the Republican National Convention, and it has been quite a show in Cleveland. From New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie—“Mr. Bridgegate” himself—lecturing Americans on ethics, to Dr. Ben Carson likening Hillary Clinton to Lucifer, to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s vitriolic speech (because spewing vitriol seems…
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#PowerThursdays: Are Ghost and Angela Destined to Fail?
Let’s cut to the chase: Love, for Ghost (Omari Hardwick) and Angela (Lela Loren) on the hit series Power, is no walk in the park. Forget the fairy tale—this is New York City. And being in love with a separated (i.e., not divorced, but, yeah … it’s coming), reformed hustler is a super-messy situation. But…
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Tumult: 72 Hours in Photos
Death. Chaos. Pain. Anguish. These are tumultuous times in this nation and the world. Unarmed black men and women are being slaughtered at the hands of law enforcement—people whose job it is to protect and serve. Black people throughout the nation are enraged, bewildered and fearful of their lives. But on Thursday, the police became…
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#PowerThursdays: Kanan, the Former Kingpin
It’s #PowerThursdays, and we dedicate this week to Kanan—the former kingpin on Power (played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson). He is back, and still committed to reclaiming his throne. Under the tutelage of Kanan, Tommy (Joseph Sikora) and Ghost (Omari Hardwick) have prospered in a nefarious, bad-guy sort of way. The brothers in crime have since…
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Tennis Royalty: The Williams Sisters Love to Serve
Venus and Serena Williams have become synonymous with this generation of tennis in the United States. The braid-and-bead-rocking sisters gained the world’s attention in the late 1990s, and after their nearly two decades in the game (pardon the pun), when either sibling enters the court, we anticipate dominance. Who cares if in 2015, Serena’s dreams of…
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#PowerThursdays: Tommy’s the Boss
Power is back (well, almost)! The provocative, smart and inherently street series returns July 17, and in honor of season 3, The Root is bringing you exclusive interviews with the cast. Omari Hardwick fans, rejoice. First up on our roster is Joseph Sikora, also known as the big, bad Tommy Egan. He was once the…
