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NY Urban League Supports Common Core Standards
As we prepare for 2014, our thoughts turn to the events that shaped our year, from the acquittal of George Zimmerman to the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington to the recent passing of Nelson Mandela. Indeed, it has been a year of great loss, remembrance and, yes, hope. Hope that in honor of…
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Bride’s Story a Cautionary Tale of the Mistakes Some Black Women Make
Over the weekend, the New York Times published “A Reluctant Bride Conquers Her Fears” in its Weddings section. The story focused on a black couple who said “I do” on Dec. 14. It was a celebratory tale with a happy ending, but some women found themselves in tears before they finished. “I’m crying over this Demetria,”…
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Believe It or Not, There Were Some Political Winners in 2013
Though there were no major elections held this year, 2013 still turned out to be one of the more eventful years in recent political memory. Between the government shutdown and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act there was certainly no shortage of major political news. There were plenty of political losers. (Click here to…
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How a Black Wise Man’s Pious Act Relates to Slavery
This image is part of a weekly series that The Root is presenting in conjunction with the Image of the Black in Western Art Archive at Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Research Institute, part of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. Editor’s note: For the Image of the Week column on the…
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Black Men Who Won in 2013
Black men triumphed in 2013. From film to politics and music, here’s a look at how they captured America’s hearts and minds. Steve McQueen The British auteur scored seven Golden Globe nominations—including one for best picture-drama—for his groundbreaking film, 12 Years a Slave, based on the memoir of Solomon Northrup. More than one critic described…
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A Year of Race Advice: Mixed Kids, Miley and ‘My Ghetto Name’
When it comes to race, racism and just plain old decency, there’s no doubt that there are plenty of people in dire need of a little guidance. But it’s a shame that these “teachable moments” so often come after a misstep, misunderstanding or controversy. (See Paula Deen, Duck Dynasty, that friend who yelled at a…
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Out and Proud: Black Gay Trailblazers
By thanking her longtime girlfriend on social media on Sunday, ABC’s Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts joined a list of influential celebrities and public figures who made history by being among the first black Americans in their respective fields to come out as gay. Here is a list of others. Glenn Burke Burke is…
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Quote of the Day: Lauryn Hill on Change
You can read this lyric from the song “Everything Is Everything” (1998), and more quotes by Lauryn Hill, in Bartlett’s Familiar Black Quotations. Read the lyric in its full context here. Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and founding director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.…
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Who Legalized Arming Black Men to Kill Confederates?
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. 62: How did black soldiers come…
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Political Losers in 2013 Were Truly a Hot Mess
Though there were no major elections held this year, 2013 still turned out to be one of the more eventful years in recent political memory. Between the government shutdown and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, there was certainly no shortage of major political news. There was also no shortage of political losers. (See…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
