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Bill Clinton Said What About Obama?
(The Root) — It is no secret that when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were competing for the presidency, there was no love lost between former President Bill Clinton and the man running against his wife. Once Hillary Clinton moved from Obama rival to Obama Cabinet member, Bill Clinton morphed from chief Obama critic to…
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Fast Food Kills More of Our People Than Gangs
(The Root) — In an occasional series, The Root will showcase the talent of spoken-word artists from the around the country. Their stories about race, social justice, community and relationships move us to action, to anger — even tears. Clint Smith teaches English at Parkdale High School in Prince George’s County, Md. In the classroom,…
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Obama's 5-Year Mark: More Hits Than Misses
(The Root) — Exactly five years after his election, it’s a tough time to take stock of Barack Obama’s legacy. In the same week in which he’s had to defend Obamacare’s difficult rollout and that saw his approval rating drop to a low of 42 percent, Forbes magazine is now piling on by ranking Obama…
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Multiracial America Makes Census Boxes Obsolete
Editor’s note: This is the first of three in a series. (The Root) — In 30 years, America will look very different than it does now. According to analysis of census data, by 2043 white Americans will no longer be a majority. But an equally significant population milestone will arrive in 2020. That is the year in which the…
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Sweet, Memorable Photos of the First Family
(The Root) — Five years ago, The Root launched to deliver news and analysis focused on the issues of black Americans and the greater Diaspora. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t put our conception into context. The creation of our site in January 2008 was in large part because of the success of Barack Obama’s campaign…
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Which Black Governor Was Almost a Senator?
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. (The Root) — Amazing Fact About the…
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Fired: Mom Behind Trayvon Martin Halloween Costume
A Massachusetts woman was reportedly fired after racially insensitive images surfaced online of her sons dressed as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman for Halloween. Caitlin Cimeno reportedly posted photos of her sons, William Filene and Greg Cimeno, with the caption: “Happy Halloween from Zimmerman & trayvon (insert smiley face emoji here),” according to a piece…
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Could Hillary 'Vanquish' the Tea Party in 2016?
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the most formidable Democratic presidential candidate, who could “vanquish” the Tea Party in 2016, Sen. Charles E. Schumer said Saturday, according the Washington Post. Although Election Day is more than three years away, Schumer is the most senior Democratic lawmaker yet to call on Clinton to run for…
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Jesse Jackson Jr. Has Projected Prison Release Date
If he behaves himself, former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) could be released from federal prison Dec. 31, 2015. The Associated Press reports that the release date is listed on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. The calculation is based on whether he receives the maximum reduction of 54 days a year for good…
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Is 'White Trash' the New Normal?
In an opinion piece at the New York Post, author Charlotte Hays laments the apparent rise and glorification of so-called “white trash” behavior in popular culture, particularly on television shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Asking if the depictions are the new normal, the author of the newly released, When Did White Trash Become…

