• Quote of the Day: Bill Cosby

    Read our interview with Bill Cosby here. Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and the director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African-American Research at Harvard University. He is also the editor-in-chief of The Root. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. 

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  • HBCUs Are Still Relevant Today

    Writing at CNN, Michael Lomax, a contributing editor at The Root and president and CEO of the United Negro College, reflects on the value of HBCUs nearly 159 years after the first institution was chartered. (CNN) – More than 35,000 students will graduate from college this year because of something that happened 159 years ago…

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  • Mississippi Inmate Denied DNA Test, Execution Set

    The Huffington Post is reporting that convicted double murderer Willie Jerome Manning, who has been on death row for nearly two decades, is set to be executed on Tuesday, after he was denied a DNA test that could save his life. In a 5-to-4 decision in April, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that there was…

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  • Watch This: Kris Kross' 10 Best Videos

    Kris Kross, the popular 1990s rap duo, is undoubtedly best-known for their global hit, “Jump,” Vibe writes. But they also built a stable of follow-up hits, with accompanying videos. In light of the passing of Chris “Mack Daddy” Kelly, the site reflects on the group’s most memorable video moments. Can you name a few? Watch…

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  • Beyoncé Meets Picasso

    (The Root) — Beyoncé Looking at Stuff may have some competition for best Beyoncé-themed Tumblr. Beyoncé Art History is a hilarious compilation of classic paintings captioned with relevant Beyoncé lyrics. It’s a very smart blog, covering pieces from Picasso to Van Gogh. It makes all the stuff you learned your sophomore year in college just…

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  • 'Redneck Day' at an Arizona High School?

    OK, what part of the game is this? Student council members at an Arizona high school thought it would be fun to host a “Redneck Day” to build school spirit leading up to prom week, according to the Huffington Post. The idea was for students at Queen Creek High School in Queen Creek, Ariz., which…

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  • Michelle Obama: Gun Violence Has Youths Fearing Death Daily

    First lady Michelle Obama said that students at a high school near her family’s Chicago home told her recently that “every day they wake up and wonder whether they’re going to make it out of school alive,” according to The Hill. She told CBS Sunday Morning that she learned the disturbing detail last month during…

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  • Kiera Wilmot Is Why Black Teens Should Avoid Florida

    Writing at BlackAmericaWeb, Gregory Kane argues that black parents of teens should steer clear of Florida, after lawmakers allowed the arrest and expulsion of Kiera Wilmot over a science experiment. The gross miscarriage of justice represents business as usual when it comes to laws and black youth. Wilmot, according to the http://www.businessinsider.com story, is an…

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  • How to Weaken a President

    In the New York Times, David Firestone argues that by trying to weaken President Barack Obama by blocking his proposals, Republicans are also insulting American voters. Republicans are clearly looking to do more than just deprive Mr. Obama of victories, however. The ultimate goal is to make him appear powerless and weak, a flailing figure…

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