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Wrapping Paper Roll Call: To Market, to Market
OK, kids—we’re now officially five weeks out from Christmas—and only a week from Black Friday (or, as we’ll be calling it here at The Glow Up, the Blackest Friday). But the pre-deals are already out there and in full effect as TGU rolls out our Wrapping Roll Call—our running list of our favorite Black vendors…
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'I’m a Black Person for Real. I Love Us.' The Root Presents: It’s Lit Talks Writing for the Next Generation With Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds famously didn’t read a novel cover-to-cover until he was nearly 18. At 36, he is one of the preeminent—and most prolific—young adult authors of this or any other generation, earning accolades and awards and carving a niche for both himself and an oft-overlooked demographic of would-be readers just like he once was by…
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Meg Thee Stallion's Fashion Nova Debut Is a 'Wild Western Moto Speed Chase'—With Some Wild Ass Patterns
Classy, bougie, ratchet (yeah). Sassy, moody, nasty. Megan Thee Stallion is a lot of things—as is her debut collection for Fashion Nova, which debuted on Wednesday. Ahead of the release, Meg boasted that the line would have “better representation” than most, specifically pointing out the size-inclusivity of her collection “of premium denim, luxe corset bodysuits…
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Icon to Icon: Zendaya Paid a Stunning Homage to Modeling Legend Donyale Luna. Now, Can We Get a Biopic?
Another week, another Zendaya cover? Well actually, there are, in total, four versions of Zendaya’s December-January collector’s edition cover for Essence. But there’s also more than one woman being immortalized in this series of highly stylized black-and-white images conceived by Zendaya’s longtime stylist and creative director for the shoot (and 2019 The Root 100 honoree),…
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Barack Obama's Newest Memoir Is Dedicated to the Women in His Life
As we endure the last 65 days of an American presidency that has continually undermined the dignity of the office and a current occupant of the White House who refuses to effectively lead or leave, it’s only natural to get wistful for days past. While plenty of past presidents have been flawed (who isn’t?), prior…
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We Still Do It in Style: Fashion Made an Unexpected Impact at the E! People's Choice Awards
In 2020, awards shows may not look like they used to, but damn if we Black folk aren’t skilled at making even the worst year of our lifetimes (thus far—ugh) look remarkably good (as a people, we’ve unfortunately had centuries of practice). As evidence, look no further than the 2020 E! People’s Choice Awards, which…
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The Knot Jumps the Broom: The Wedding Giant Debuts an Invitation Collection by Black Artists
With the ongoing impacts of a global pandemic, we’ve had to get creative with our celebrations, as of late—but sometimes, love won’t let us wait. Some of our favorite weddings of all time have taken place during quarantine, the enforced intimacy often placing a much more profound emphasis on the union rather than the magnitude…
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'I Want Black Women to Be Louder' Says Megan Thee Stallion on the Cover of GQ's Men of the Year Issue
“Sometimes you just got to remind people that you’re magical and everything about you down to your vagina and to your toes is magical,” says Megan Thee Stallion, who has crafted her own brand of Black girl magic in recent years, casting her spell over a diverse and growing swath of fans. The Houston native—named…
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Celebrating the 'Boldness of Women,' Venus Williams Debuts a New Collaboration With K-Swiss
“I’m just a kid from Compton who knew how to hit a ball.” That’s the Venus Williams quote embroidered on the left sleeve of the “MVP Varsity” jacket featured in a new collaboration between the tennis phenom’s lifestyle label EleVen and legacy athletic brand K-Swiss. “No matter where I go in life, I’ll never forget…
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Ivy Park Is at It Again: Drip 2.2 Will Serve a Darker Mood With 'The Black Pack'
Didn’t get your hands on anything from Adidas x Ivy Park’s instantly sold out Drip 2 last month? Or maybe it was a bit too bright for your fall/winter mood? Say no more, Fam, Beyoncé’s beloved athleisure brand is dropping yet another drip next week, this time in a ‘black and nesa” colorway—or as Queen…