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The Month After Michael Brown’s Death: A Ferguson Timeline
It’s been a month since Ferguson, Mo., Police Officer Darren Wilson gunned down unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, setting off nationwide demands, first for justice for Brown’s family, and later, for protesters subjected to shockingly aggressive policing by a militarized force. In just 30 days, “Ferguson” has come to serve as shorthand for police misconduct, racial…
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The Octoroon: A Tragic Mulatto Enslaved by 1 Drop
This image is part of a weekly series that The Root is presenting in conjunction with the Image of the Black Archive & Library at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. Though it would hardly seem likely at first glance, this pallid image of slavery directly addresses the condition of black bondage. To…
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For Those Still Saying ‘Don’t Judge Ray Rice’: Get Your Head Checked
Editor’s note: Shortly after this story was published, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Ray Rice’s contract. Read the story here. Earlier this year, just after Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his fiancee, Janay Palmer, were arrested and charged with domestic assault over Valentine’s Day weekend, his lawyer described the incident as “a very minor…
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Explaining the Underwhelming Reaction When Black Women’s Nude Pics Are Stolen
The following is a sampling of headlines about the recent theft and illegal release of alleged nude photos of celebrities: “Jennifer Lawrence, Others Aren’t Just Hacking Victims” “Kate Upton, Jennifer Lawrence’s Hacked Photos to Be in Art Show” “Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lawrence Allegedly Targets of Massive Celebrity Hacking, FBI Has Launched Investigation” “Celebrities’ Leaked Nude…
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Maybe My Weird Version of Blackness Isn’t That Weird
Growing up, I always thought I was weird. Even my own mother said so. I was a nerdy black girl who was quiet, shy and introverted; who struggled to find out who I was and to be comfortable in my own skin. For years I felt I had to put on masks of identities that…
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Who Was the 1st Black Rhodes Scholar?
Editor’s note: For those who are wondering about the retro title of this black-history series, please take a moment to learn about historian Joel A. Rogers, author of the 1934 book 100 Amazing Facts About the Negro With Complete Proof, to whom these “amazing facts” are an homage. Amazing Fact About the Negro No. 90: How did the shattering…
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An Educator’s Perspective: It’s Too Easy to Blame Parents When Kids Can’t Read
Every semester I hope things will be different. I hope that when I walk into my English-composition and writing courses, the majority of my students will, at the very least, be equipped with the basics: They’ll know how to write paragraphs, how to read critically and how to comprehend a text in order to form their own opinions…
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‘Offensive’ Email Prompts Atlanta Hawks Co-Owner to Sell Stake
Updated Sunday, Sept. 7, 4:18 p.m. EDT: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published the full text of the email that Bruce Levenson sent to Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry in August 2012. From: Bruce Levenson To: Ferry, Danny CC: Foreman, Todd (ucg.com); Peskowitz, Ed (ucg.com) Sent: 8/25/2012 11:47:02 PM Subject: Re: Business/Game ops 1. from day one…
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Congress Vows to Act to Avoid Shutdown
In an effort to avoid a repeat of last year’s partial government shutdown, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are promising action as they return to Capitol Hill after summer break, the Associated Press reports. At the same time, they hope to define their parties for the fall campaign. Last fall, Republican House leaders…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
