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The Root Recommends: Childish Gambino
Television star Donald Glover, whose hip-hop alias is Childish Gambino, is melding his chops for rap and comedy in his upcoming nationwide tour, “I Am Donald.” Glover initially kept a muzzle on his musical talents out of fear of letting the public in on his passion for rap. Now the 27-year-old actor, comedian, writer and musician…
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The Root Recommends: Lupe Fiasco's Lasers
After recording two critically acclaimed albums and defying the laws of hip-hop commercialism, which state that overtly “conscious” rappers can’t sell records, Lupe Fiasco has released his third studio album, Lasers. On this new album, Lupe delivers his signature metaphorical genius. But fans may be surprised to encounter a more mainstream sound on Lasers, including…
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The Root Recommends: Diana Ross' Greatest Hits Tour
Music legend Diana Ross is touring 17 cities for her “More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits” tour. From Choctaw, Miss., to Washington, D.C., fans of all ages can witness why people all over the world still love Diana — or Ms. Ross, as she prefers to be called. With 18 number one hits and…
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The Root Recommends: 'The Adjustment Bureau'
What rules humankind — fate or free will? The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, seeks to answer that question with a story about a man who alters his destiny when he falls in love. Catch the film to see über-talented Anthony Mackie — who stars as the caseworker in charge of making…
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The Root Recommends: CNN's 'Race & Rage'
Race & Rage is a new documentary commemorating the 20th anniversary of the vicious beating Rodney King took from Los Angeles police in 1991. The beating and events that followed ultimately sparked a weeklong spree of riots and looting and forced the city to re-examine its racial divides. The documentary, hosted by CNN anchor Don…
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The Root Recommends: 'Thurgood'
HBO will air Thurgood, a one-man show starring Laurence Fishburne as Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court justice. Fishburne received glowing reviews — and a Tony nomination — for his instructive performance. HBO filmed the well-reviewed play at the Kennedy Center last spring after its short run on Broadway. Thurgood airs all month on…
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The Root Recommends: Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius, one half of the now disbanded British neo-soul duo Floetry, debuted her first solo effort, Late Nights & Early Mornings, last week, but not without some social commentary. The video for “Far Away,” the second single from Late Nights, depicts the love story of Ambrosius’ two gay male friends — an affair that…
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The Root Recommends: 'Harlem Is Nowhere'
In Harlem Is Nowhere, Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts walks readers through Harlem’s storied streets, recounting its colorful history while narrating the complexities of its present condition. Rhodes-Pitts weaves her own experiences with those of famous fictional characters from the Harlem Renaissance’s most memorable novels. But readers also meet Harlem’s real-life protagonists — Zora Neale Hurston, James Van Der…
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Atlanta Brings Out Its Young, Fabulous and Female
The spirit of The Root’s Young, Fabulous and Female evening Tuesday in Atlanta was summed up quite nicely in a piece of advice shared by Meet the Browns actress Terri J. Vaughn: “When we are all propelling each other, we all rise to the top.” Vaughn made the remark during a wide-ranging panel discussion on…
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The Root Recommends: CIAA
You have a couple of days to plan — get thee to Charlotte. Stat. Often referred to as simply CIAA, the annual all-black Central Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., is a must-attend event for many folks in the know. The athletic conference includes 13 black schools — including Bowie State, Winston-Salem State…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
