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How the Communal Experience of Music Has Changed
Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal sits down with Professor Guthrie Ramsey Jr. to talk about how music today is made, shared and studied. Ramsey is the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania and recently published The Amazing Bud Powell: Black Genius, Jazz History, and…
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Single Parents and Money: The Root Live at 11 A.M.
In many African-American families, when we have an important issue to discuss, we gather in the kitchen and bring it to the table. That’s especially true of financial discussions, whether about how to pay the bills, how to send Junior to college or where to start looking for a new job. For the next six…
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From Leather Skirts to French Nails, Brothers Are Stylin’
Actor Omar Epps sparked a Twitter storm when he donned a leather skirt for his appearance on The View. But Epps isn’t the only man pushing the envelope when it comes to style. We found a few more famous men who are getting in touch with their feminine side when it comes to fashion and…
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Black, Gay, Southern Men Embodied in Sweet Tea
Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal sits down with professor E. Patrick Johnson to talk about his play Sweet Tea. Professor Johnson is the Carlos Montezuma Professor of Performance Studies and African American Studies at Northwestern University. Sweet Tea was published as a book in 2011. At the time, Amazon described it this way:…
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How Black Parents Would React If We Sued for Child Support
New Jersey teenager Rachel Canning, 18, lost a lawsuit asking her parents to pay her child support. Canning, however, is still hoping that the judge will order them to pay for her college education. We think black parents would have handled the situation a little differently. We took a survey of The Root staff to find out…
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The Root Live: Bring It to the Table Tackles Job Loss
In many African-American families, when we have an important issue to discuss, we gather in the kitchen and bring it to the table. That’s especially true of financial discussions, whether about how to pay the bills, how to send Junior to college or where to start looking for a new job. For the next seven…
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Ben Jealous Continues His Civil Rights Fight ‘by Any Means That Works’
Benjamin Jealous left the NAACP in January, but, he says, he plans to “stay on track with my life’s mission of leveling the playing field in this country.” And in the next phase of his career—as a venture partner at the Kapor Center for Social Impact—he’ll be focused on “trying new ways” to expand opportunities…
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12 Years a Slave Wins Oscar for Best Picture
The brilliant yet brutal 12 Years a Slave made history Sunday night as the first film directed by a black man, with a predominately black cast, to win an Oscar for best picture. In one of the most competitive Oscar races in recent memory, the honor was bestowed tonight at the 86th Academy Awards. Producer…
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Lupita Nyong’o Takes Home Oscar for 12 Years a Slave
The “It Girl” is really “It.” Lupita Nyong’o won an Oscar Sunday night for best supporting actress for her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave. After hugging director Steve McQueen, her co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor and (oddly) Liza Minelli, the stunning star took the stage to give an emotional and heartfelt acceptance speech. “It…
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Chicago’s Often Forgotten Role in African-American Art
Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal joins professor Richard Powell in a walk through the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University to discuss the works of Archibald Motley Jr. Professor Powell is the John Spencer Bassett Professor of art, art history and visual studies at Duke University, as well as the curator of…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
