• Inside the Mind of a Genius: Elyn R. Saks

    Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. Age: 54 Hometown: Miami, Florida Current Location: Los Angeles, California Occupation: Law professor 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you? I…

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  • Inside the Mind of a Genius: Edwidge Danticat

    Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. EDWIDGE DANTICAT Age: 40 Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti Current Location: Miami, FL Occupation: Writer 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you? Funny, neurotic, sensitive and,…

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  • Inside the Mind of a Genius: Richard O. Prum

    Now that you know How to Be a Black Genius, members of the 2009 class of MacArthur fellows give some insight into the way they live and think. Age: 48 Current Location: New Haven, Connecticut Occupation: Professor at Yale University 1. What four adjectives would your first best friend use to describe you? Enthusiastic, passionate, adventurous, nerdy 2. What…

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  • Meet The Root 100

    The Root 100 is a newly minted honor intended to celebrate the leadership, service and excellence of African-American men and women whose passion, dedication and innovative work have set them apart. The Root 100 is the manifestation of a core component of The Root’s mission—to bring to light people and ideas who are quietly having…

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  • The Root 100

    Click here for individual profiles

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  • Owner of D.C.'s Famous Ben's Chili Bowl Dies at 82.

    “He lived a full life and put a lot into the business,” says one member of the family. Ben Ali, the man who put the Ben in Ben’s Chili Bowl, died Wednesday night at the age of 82. He and his wife of 50 years, Virginia, established Ben’s Chili Bowl in 1958 on the U…

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  • Michael Jackson's Birthday Bash!

    UPDATE: Click here for the flyer and information about the 2010 bash! You could say that Spike Lee always had a special connection to Michael Jackson: They were born a year apart, both to musical families. Back in the day, every Saturday morning, Lee, like many other black kids across the country, sat down in…

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  • Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

    This year, Barack Obama celebrates his birthday in the White House as president of the United States. But, Michelle Obama and the first kids will be hard-pressed to find the right present for the commander in chief who has everything. The Root readers recommend a few gift ideas for the POTUS as he turns the…

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  • The Gates Case Roundup

    Mistaken identity? The woman’s statement — corroborated by the police commissioner — means that much of the media commentary over the last week about the incident has been based on a faulty premise: that the police report is accurate. Moreover, tapes of the 911 call were released midday Monday. “One thing the tapes didn’t show:…

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  • 'Unknown on Race'

    Listen here. The Transcript Dispatcher: Respond to 17 Ware Street for a possible B and E in progress. Two SPs (suspicious persons) barged their way into the home, they have suitcases. R-P 5 – SP. Stand by, trying to get further. Officer 52 (Crowley): 52. Ware Street right now, 17? Dispatcher: 17 Ware Street ……

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