-
The Blackout: It's Black History Month and I'm Blacking Out My Beauty Routine
Folks, it’s once again Black History Month—a month that tends to sneak up on me since I’ve been on staff at The Root, where every day is steeped in black past, present and future. But as February 1st approached, so did the uncomfortable feeling that I haven’t been doing my best for the culture; specifically,…
-
Pretty Hurts: Beyoncé's Influence Is Undisputed, but Can She Bring Back the Skort?
Sometimes, you feel like a skirt. Sometimes, you don’t. I’m not sure it’s possible to overestimate the impact of anything Beyoncé says, does, wears, or eats. In 2016, she effectively reminded the world that New Orleans is still the shit, Coachella will never be the same after her groundbreaking appearance last April, the Louvre credits…
-
Popz Has the Topz: Who Knew John Legend’s Dad Designs Hats?
There’s the remix. And then there’s the legend. John Legend is known as a fairly dapper dude, and apparently, he get it from his papa, designer Ron Stephens. Page Six Style reports that Stephens, 69, had long been designing and tailoring his own clothing but seems to have hit upon his signature style when he…
-
Black Myself: Rhiannon Giddens Forms Supergroup ‘Our Native Daughters’ and Reclaims the Soul of Country Music
Four women. In 1966, Nina Simone famously sang the strikingly diverse yet intersecting narratives of four fictional-but-unforgettable black women. Now, four women who could be considered Simone’s spiritual daughters—award-winning musician and composer Rhiannon Giddens, acclaimed neo-folk singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah, classical and folk artist Leyla McCalla (formerly of Giddens’ Grammy-winning band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops), and…
-
Fenty Never Freezes: Rihanna Defies the Winter Temps with a Decidedly Spring-Like Look
When you’re hot, you’re hot. And who’s hotter than Rihanna? That’s the only response we had after spotting Ms. Fenty’s ensemble for a dinner out in New York City on Wednesday night, defying single-digit temps in an outfit that has us longing for spring (as if we weren’t already). Proving that coats are for the…
-
‘Don’t Forget About Us’: Mariah Carey Performs in Saudi Arabia as Saudi Women Activists Urge Her to Boycott
Is Mariah Carey championing gender desegregation by performing in Saudi Arabia? Or is she becoming a pawn in the country’s PR campaign while ignoring its human rights abuses—particularly against women protesting its traditionally repressive policies? These are the questions many are asking as Carey makes her first concert appearance in the kingdom on Thursday—an appearance…
-
Jay-Z Demands a More Diverse Panel to Settle Trademark Lawsuit—and Wins
Jay-Z just scored a legal win relevant to arbitration proceedings everywhere. Page Six reports that the rapper and mogul, also known as Shawn Carter, has won a suit against the American Arbitration Association which charged that its “too white” panel was unqualified to give a fair, unbiased ruling on the trademark infringement suit brought against…
-
Glossier Gets with the Program: The Brand's Perfecting Skin Tint Finally Expands Its Shade Range
In the race to offer full-spectrum beauty, smaller brands have often struggled to keep up, as larger brands seem to be pushing broader shade ranges into the market with stunning speed (sometimes, a little too fast). But as we know, slow and steady often wins the race, so we’re hoping for the best from the…
-
Infinite Possibilities: Black Love Matters in Christina Anderson's How to Catch Creation
It’s impossible to talk about award-winning playwright Christina Anderson’s How to Catch Creation without talking about love; specifically, black love. In its world premiere at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre on Monday, Anderson’s multigenerational drama introduced six black characters whose love stories span almost a half century and explore the myriad and unique ways in which we…
-
No Tears Left to Cry? Ariana Grande's New Tattoo Is, Er … Smoking Hot (Literally) [Updated]
In the ongoing discussion about cultural appropriation, perhaps the most ubiquitous (and therefore, somehow generally acceptable) is the Kanji tattoo. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s one of the countless Japanese language tattoos long sported by people of other cultures, often to indicate some sort of Eastern-inspired spiritual depth. (Or because people just think it looks cool;…
