-
Why'd They Kill Tyrone? Unpacking Blackness in Horror Films
Black folks don’t do horror—right?! Wrong. The correct answer: It’s complicated. Blackness and horror are two concepts that until recently, didn’t really seem to harmoniously coexist. After all, who wants to pay to see their play-cousins either be axed first—to flutter around as the magical negro or sacrifice their life so the white savior may…
-
She’s Our Hero: In HBO’s Watchmen, Regina King Kicks White Supremacist Ass
Black women do it again. In HBO’s Watchmen, the queen, Regina King, plays Angela Abar, a superhero who kicks white supremacist ass. We stan. For the record, Regina King has always been a superhero in our eyes—only difference is that this time, Hollywood gave her a flyyy (presumably) leather ‘fit, a rosary, and a mask.…
-
Black and Indigenous Millennials Are Canceling Latinidad. Here’s Why
Latin America been black and indigenous. After all, indigenous people are by definition native to a particular place. So indigenous people in Latin America—the region in the Western hemisphere South of the U.S., where romance languages are spoken—yeah, they’ve been there. Now onto the black part. For those who are unaware, during the slave trade,…
-
Bish I Be Running, Week 5: No Pain, No Gain?
Not sure if y’all noticed, but last week this training diary took a week off. But it was for good reason. In what would have been week four of Bish I Be Running, I sustained a minor injury (read: I got hurt up, y’all). But I’m OK now! Thanks for your concern. Long story short:…
-
Wu-Wednesday: The Wu-Tang Clan Play 'Black Ass Game'
It’s Wu-Wednesday, folks! Wu-Tang: An American Saga on Hulu is well underway. Have y’all caught the series yet? What’s the read—are folks feeling it? On this Wu-Wednesday, allow us to offer some levity for that azz. With that, The Root welcomed members of the Wu Tang Clan, as well of some cast of Wu-Tang: An…
-
Erika Alexander's an Iconic Actor, but Life in Hollywood Ain't No Crystal Stair
This just in: disparities persist in Hollywood. Beyond a lack of inclusion and pay inequities—which are both critical—the ways that we see black women, as well as the breadth of our roles and even the level of imagination assigned to the specific characters we play, can be stifling. “I think that black men [in Hollywood]…
-
They've Got the Power, We've Got the Black Ass Game
Some truths are undeniable; among them: that Power on Starz is unmatched. The show is brimming with grit, betrayal and ALL the drama. And for this good-ass television, we offer our gratitude to the TV gods. Namastay-black. Alas, all good things must come to an end. In honor of six successful seasons, The Root took…
-
How American Slavery Helped Create Modern-Day Policing
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in what we now know as Virginia. Their voyage was, no doubt, filled with unspeakable horror and death, and their presence would forever change the United States—especially when examining the way this country approaches policing. When enslaved Africans arrived in America,…
-
Meek Mill Weighs in on Stifling Criminal Justice System Ahead of Amazon's Free Meek Documentary
Meek Mill has been stuck in the criminal justice system for practically his entire adult life. First arrested at 19 for gun- and drug-related charges, Robert Rihmeek Williams—like many other black and brown people—has found himself on a merry-go-round, in and out of the criminal justice system. Now the 32-year-old is an internationally known rapper…
-
Hell or High Water: How Racism Kept Black America From Swimming
Now, we’ve all heard the stereotype that black folks can’t swim. But, unfortunately, that cliché is based in haunting truths. The numbers speak for themselves: 64 percent of black kids have no or low swimming ability, versus 45 percent of Latinx children and 40 percent of white kids. A 2014 study also found that black…
