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My Mama Gives the Best Hugs—I Haven’t Had One of Hers in Two Years
I’ll never forget the moment I told my mama I was moving to L.A. “I’m not happy here, Mama,” I told the woman I affectionately call “Dalai Mama,” as I explained to her that it was time to leave my beloved hometown of Chicago to finally chase my dreams. I felt her bristle with the…
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Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jennifer Hudson and Jeffrey Wright Face the True Monster in America
What happens when the actual monster gets to dictate the story? Well, that monster gets to be the protagonist, shift any blame elsewhere and name something or someone else “the monster.” Black Americans know that M.O. all too well, as we’re constantly dehumanized and vilified…even when we’re the victim. In Netflix’s upcoming film Monster, that…
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Will Smith Is Getting His Body-Ody-Ody Right in New Slate of YouTube Original Series
Back in the ’90s, Will Smith once looked at his kingdom because he was finally there, and sat on his throne as the Prince of Bel Air. Cut to the roaring 2020s and we’re all sitting on our thrones (well, maybe just the porcelain thrones, after eating burritos)…in lockdown. Continuing his streak as the best…
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NBC Says HFPA's Overhaul Plan Is 'an Encouraging Step in the Right Direction'
It looks like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) may be headed in the right direction—at least in the eyes of its affiliated network and production company. According to Deadline, the nonprofit organization of journalists and photographers behind the Golden Globes released an announcement on Monday laying out its plan to completely overhaul its 86-member…
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It Was a Black-Ass Week of Overall Deals, Docs, Reboots and Franchises—You Know What That Is? Growth
It’s been quite the week in the Black Hollywood trades, and while I always love to see it (truly, I do!), I don’t always love the practical limits of production bandwidth. This is a small but mighty staff at The Root and we’re not always able to cover every bit of news—leading us to sometimes…
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British Actor Noel Clarke Accused of Sexual Misconduct; Michaela Coel Supports 20 'Brave Women' Who Came Forward
Content Warning: The following article contains details of alleged sexual misconduct, including unauthorized sharing of explicit photos, groping, harassment and bullying. British actor Noel Clarke (Doctor Who) has been accused of sexual misconduct by 20 women, according to an investigative report published by The Guardian on Thursday. The women allege that the acclaimed actor is…
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Lupita Nyong’o Confirms Ryan Coogler 'Reshaped' Black Panther 2 to Be 'Respectful' of Chadwick Boseman
Black Panther 2 will soon begin production in Atlanta, and director Ryan Coogler recently made headlines when he penned an op-ed explaining exactly why he wasn’t boycotting the state of Georgia after the passing of voter suppression bill SB202. Of course, many fans are likely curious about the cast and crew as they film a…
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Pose: The Final Season: How the Series Set an Industry Standard for LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces
To kick off the month of May, Pose fans will be living, werking and posing for the very last time. As announced in March, the Peabody-winning, Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated series will be saying its final goodbye this year with its third season. As someone who has screened the entire final season in advance, I…
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TCM Exclusive Clip: Reflecting on the L.A. Rebellion Black Film Movement—an Alternative to Classic White Cinema
Being a Black person in the film industry often means having to create your own lanes in a highway filled with whiteness. The 2021 TCM Classic Film Festival is coming in May and one of the specials in its lineup will focus on the L.A. Rebellion. The L.A. Rebellion (also known as the Los Angeles…
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The Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Oprah Interview Cinematic Universe Continues…With a Documentary
The huge success of Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special means that every possible way to milk that content will be explored. Hell, The Root (and I’m sure many other outlets) has gotten multiple stories and clicks out of it (including this one)! In that spirit, Discovery+ has announced an upcoming documentary…
