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Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre: Directors Stanley Nelson and Marco Williams Reflect on 100 Years of Racist Terrorism
This year, it’ll be 100 years since the extremely grotesque act of domestic terrorism known as the Tulsa Race Massacre, which occurred on May 31 and June 1, 1921. Presented by the History Channel, Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre is directed by Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director Stanley Nelson (Freedom Riders, Crack: Cocaine, Corruption…
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Singer John Davis, One of the Real Voices Behind Milli Vanilli, Dead at 66 Due to Coronavirus
John Davis, known as one of the true voices behind once-popular R&B group Milli Vanilli, has died at the age of 66 due to complications from the coronavirus, Variety reports. His daughter Jasmin confirmed the news via a Facebook post on May 24. “My dad passed away this evening through the coronavirus,” Jasmin wrote. “He…
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Exclusive Trailer: PBS POV Documentary The Neutral Ground Explores the Power a Losing Confederate Has in the U.S.
Here at The Root, we’ve provided exhaustive coverage on the ongoing fight in connection with the removal of Confederate monuments across the nation. The pushback against this glorification of inherently racist symbols has finally gotten some real results within the past few years. Sometimes protestors have to take action; sometimes government officials authorize the removal…and…
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Howard University's College of Fine Arts Is Now Named After Chadwick Boseman
Howard University has announced an amazing tribute to one of its most notable alumni—the late beloved actor Chadwick Boseman. According to the Washington Post, Howard University announced on Wednesday that it will be naming its newly established College of Fine Arts after Boseman, who graduated from the HBCU in 2000. Boseman died in August 2020…
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Samuel E. Wright, Effervescent Voice of The Little Mermaid's Sebastian, Dead at 74
Samuel E. Wright, the beloved actor, primarily known for his unforgettable voice work portraying the stern crab in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989) has died at the age of 74, Variety reports. The official page of Wright’s hometown, Montgomery, N.Y., confirmed the news on Tuesday. According to Deadline, Wright died of prostate cancer in his…
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Ava DuVernay Receives Honorary Doctorate from Yale—and Yes, Her Mom Is Now Calling Her 'Dr. DuVernay'
Acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay once helmed a film about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—and now she can add a similar honorific to her name. Esteemed Ivy League institution Yale University recently named this year’s honorary doctorate degree recipients and Ava is one of them! The award-winning director (Selma, 13th, When They See Us) has now…
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The Verzuz Memorial Weekend Rematch Event Will Revisit Its Origin Story—Swizz Beatz vs. Timbaland
Just like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Verzuz pretty much has its own cinematic universe (VCU) at this point. Speaking of, would the Earth Wind & Fire Verzuz The Isley Brothers event be the equivalent of The Avengers? Anyway, Verzuz co-founders Swizz Beatz and Timbaland announced on Tuesday that they will perform a special “rematch”…
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Lil Nas X Is 'Not Fazed, Only Here to Sin'—How He Pulled Off the SNL Performance Despite Wardrobe Malfunction
In “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X rap-sings, “What a time, an incline, God was shinin’ on me.” Despite many folks missing the point of his much-discussed music video by accusing him of devil worshipping, there was certainly something divine in the air during his recent Saturday Night Live performance. In case…
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Meghan McCain Is Back in the Habit of Annoying Whoopi Goldberg, and We All Need Behind-the-Scenes Tea
In The Color Purple, Shug Avery (Margaret Avery) told Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) that it pisses God off when you walk by nature’s color purple without noticing. It’s pretty safe to say that it pisses Whoopi off when Meghan McCain continues to rant without noticing that Whoopi has to give the verbal cue for a commercial…
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We Get High on the Hog and Play Black Ass Game With Chef-Writer Stephen Satterfield
Y’all hungry? Well, I certainly was while watching Netflix’s new four-part docuseries High on the Hog in preparation for my very fun and informative interview with chef and writer Stephen Satterfield. Here’s the series synopsis, via Netflix: Black food is American food. Chef and writer Stephen Satterfield traces the delicious, moving through-lines from Africa to…
