-
This Equal Pay Day, the Crisis May Be Widening the Chasm
In the midst of a global pandemic, discussions about gender wage equality have largely taken a backseat to broader concerns about widespread economic insecurity in the wake of this crisis. Nevertheless, March 31 marks Equal Pay Day, the day that symbolizes how long it would take American women to “catch up” to the average earnings…
-
As COVID-19 Closures Continue, America's Biggest Retailers Furlough Employees
If I’m honest, I’ve had a longstanding love-hate relationship with the retail juggernaut known as Macy’s. Love, because I spent decades modeling for their catalogs and e-commerce site, working with some of the coolest, kindest people around. Hate, because growing up in the Midwest, shopping at much-beloved department stores like Chicago’s Marshall Field’s and the…
-
Serena Williams Just Provided the Relatable Content We Need on the 3rd Monday of Self-Isolation
Mondays, amirite? Wait—is it Monday? I’ve lost track of time…what is time, anymore? If it is Monday (and I’m pretty sure it is), this marks the third since we’ve been under official self-isolation mandates here in Illinois and many other states…with at least a month more to go. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been…
-
No One Asked Him To, but Donald Trump Insists U.S. Won't Be Paying for Harry and Meghan's Security
You know what America wants to know? Why Trump can’t give a straight answer to journalists about his response to the coronavirus crisis, why he hasn’t consistently instituted protocols consistent with the advice (and warnings) of medical experts, and why he won’t ensure that all the states get the resources they need without their governors…
-
Goin' Back to Cali: Meghan and Harry Settle Into the Golden State Just in Time to Shelter-in-Place
After months of speculation, weeks of wrapping up royal obligations, and the announcement on Wednesday that Prince Charles has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly exiting not only the British monarchy but the British Commonwealth, as well. People reports that the couple who will, as of March 31, formerly be…
-
Retail Therapy: Being Housebound Could Be an Excellent Opportunity to #BuyBlack
If you’re anything like me (or the majority of The Root crew), the stresses of self-isolating are already taking their toll—we’ve been stress-eating, panic-buying and lowkey freaking out, in general—and we’re the lucky ones. If you are one of the few who has the luxury of working from home and still collect a paycheck while…
-
Thanks to Trump, Lupus Sufferers Are Now Struggling to Get a Crucial Drug
The last time I checked, no one elected a medical doctor—or even a pharmacist—to the presidency in 2016 (or a rational human being, for that matter). But that hasn’t stopped many people from following Trump’s dubious medical advice in the wake of the coronavirus. As the world desperately seeks a method to contain or prevent…
-
Bringing It Home: Culinary Historian and Author Jessica B. Harris Receives James Beard's Lifetime Achievement Award
Of the many industries affected by COVID-19, the culinary industry has proved one of the most vulnerable, as social distancing runs contrary to the very nature of the restaurant world. The James Beard Foundation, which fosters and celebrates the industry’s leaders, is no exception. Since the coronavirus crisis hit, the famed organization has postponed its…
-
Guess What? Women May Be Equally Eligible for the Draft Before We Achieve Equal Pay
This year, Women’s History Month happens to end on a very poignant date; Equal Pay Day 2020 is March 31, marking how long it takes women on average to catch up with the earnings of their white male counterparts. If you’re a black woman, that date moves to August 13, meaning you may actually be…
-
Lifesavers Get Some Love: Pronovias Offers Free Bridal Gowns to Hospital Personnel
In the midst of what has become a global health crisis, it’s understandable that many highly-anticipated events are no longer priorities as we attempt to “flatten the curve”—including festivals, graduations, vacations, and yes, even weddings. If the postponement or planning of a life-changing event like one’s wedding during a life-threatening pandemic is understandably devastating to…
