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The Root Recommends: 'Indigo'
In Indigo: In Search of the Color That Seduced the World, author Catherine E. McKinley explores the significance of the color indigo throughout the world, chronicling its storied history in western Africa and beyond. A self-professed enthusiast of the ubiquitous, jean-hued color, McKinley highlights indigo’s past connections with the African slave trade and the color’s…
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'Queloides': Artists Explore Racism in Cuba
Esquivel’s artistic strategy is to delegitimize power. Unafraid to provoke, he explores racial themes through the rebellious “logic of the escaped slave.” Captions adapted by Brandee Sanders from the book Queloides: Race and Racism in Cuban Contemporary Art. Learn more about “Queloides” on The Root. Esquivel uses painting, installation, performance and video art to examine…
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The Root Recommends: Mayer Hawthorne
Soul crooner Mayer Hawthorne has quickly become a heavy contender among the newest group of artists looking to resuscitate R&B. Taking cues from Curtis Mayfield, Al Green and others, Hawthorne’s raw and expressive style has garnered praise from a slew of household hip-hop superstars, including Kanye West and Snoop Dogg. The Motown- and Stax-inspired artist…
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The Great Black Way? Black Tony Award Winners
Although classically trained at Juilliard, Hall sometimes had to pass for Asian to get jobs on Broadway. Her most famous role was Bloody Mary, the island woman who trades with the American sailors in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. It earned her the first Tony awarded to an African American. Hall eventually played the part…
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Controversial Kanye West Video Boasts Disclaimer
No stranger to controversy, Kanye West is notorious for pushing boundaries and buttons. And with the recent official release of his music video for “Monster,” Yeezy isn’t letting anyone stymie his contentious creativity. The video, which leaked in raw form in December, features a bevy of scantily clothed models playing dead in a variety of…
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Black Generation Gap Event: Scenes from the Evening
The Root hosted a panel in Washington, D.C., on June 6 to discuss the generational attitude differences among blacks that are detailed in Ellis Cose’s new book, The End of Anger. From right: The night’s panelists — political analyst Jamal Simmons, Erica L. Williams (Citizen Engagement Laboratory), Cheryl Contee (Jack & Jill Politics) and political…
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The Root Recommends: 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty'
The late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen is immortalized in a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” commemorates McQueen’s career and incomparable designs by displaying five of his monumental costume collections. The exhibition, which has had more than 180,000 visitors since its May 4 opening, boasts…
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Prince and the Evolution: A Photo History
The world was introduced to the music of 19-year-old Prince Rogers Nelson with the April 1978 release of his debut album, For You. Playing more than 20 instruments on the record, Prince brought together disco, pop, funk and R&B rhythms on songs like “Soft and Wet,” “Just as Long as We’re Together” and “Crazy You.”…
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The Root Recommends: TV One's 'Unsung'
TV One’s NAACP Image Award-winning Unsung, in its newest season, continues to unravel the obscure stories of some of black music’s most talented pioneers. Featuring classic R&B singers such as Phyllis Hyman and Teddy Pendergrass, and even some rappers (think Big Daddy Kane), Unsung details the highs and lows of noteworthy artists who stood in…
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The Wittiness of Weinergate: The Best Headlines
New York Rep. Anthony Weiner sparked a media frenzy over salacious allegations that he tweeted a lewd photo to a 21-year-old Seattle female college student. After days of keeping quiet, the representative broke his silence, accusing hackers of sending the photo from his Twitter account. With outlandish conspiracy theories and comical developments, the media circus…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
