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MLK/FBI First Look Clip: How Martin Luther King Jr. Became the 'Most Dangerous Negro' After the March on Washington
Today, Martin Luther King, Jr. is lauded as an American hero—a direct contrast to the actual reality of an activist whose own country terrorized him. In the upcoming documentary MLK/FBI, that very contradiction is explored in depth. From the press release provided to The Root: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an…
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The March on Washington Film Festival Goes Virtual in 2020, Keeping Our Stories at the Center
Like many film festivals, the March on Washington Film Festival (MOWFF) is typically held in a physical location (in MOWFF’s case, Washington D.C.) but in 2020, everyone is all about the pivot to virtual. The 8th annual MOWFF is doing the same this year, hosting more than 20 events over seven days, including documentaries, panel…
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Kenya Barris Has a New-ish Spinoff and It’s Old-ish; Jenifer Lewis and Laurence Fishburne to Star
The Kenya Barris Cinematic Universe (KBCU) continues and this time, we’re focusing on the OGs! According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC is officially developing Old-ish, the third spinoff of the popular franchise that began with Black-ish. The upcoming series will star Jenifer Lewis (as Ruby Johnson) and Laurence Fishburne (as Earl “Pops” Johnson). Barris did…
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Want a Best Picture Oscar Nomination in 2024? The Academy Requires You to Step Up Your Inclusion Game
The Academy is changing—and we don’t just mean its members. As part of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday that it will be enacting new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility in the Best Picture category. That’s right, if you want the biggest and…
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'Midnight Train' to IG Live: Gladys Knight Verzuz Patti LaBelle Is Happening Because 'Somebody Loves You, Baby'
“If only you knew” that this would happen…because “neither one of us” was expecting this! On Tuesday evening, the official Verzuz account tweeted that the next upcoming event will feature two beloved icons: Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle! “The Master Class we’ve ALL been waiting for!” the account tweeted, urging all fans to dress up…
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Trailer Roundup: Welcome to the Blumhouse, Are You Ready for a Supermarket Sweep?
We’re now officially in the month of September and you’ve probably already heard premature Earth Wind & Fire jokes (since the lyric is “…21st night of September”), but looking at the bright side (we need to!), it’s never a bad time for an EWF jam. Speaking of the bright side, let’s get into these trailers……
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Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Alfre Woodard and Sanaa Lathan Are Thanking You for Being a Virtual Friend With a Golden Girls 'Reimagined' Rendition
If you threw a Zoom party, would you invite everyone you knew? Well, it looks like some celebrities are using part of their extended free time during the lockdown to continue the show. After all, Hollywood mandates that the show must go on. Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, Tracee Ellis Ross announced a virtual…
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Regina King Says Her Feature Directorial Debut Could 'Open Doors or Close Doors for More Black Female Directors'
I don’t know if you know this, but Regina King is kind of a big deal. The Oscar-winning actress is specifically a big deal at the 2020 Venice Film Festival having made history as the first Black woman director to have a film selected for the prestige festival with her feature directorial debut, One Night…
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Exclusive: Pandora and Kevin Hart's LOL Radio Launches Def Comedy Jam Station Featuring Over 400 Tracks of Classic Acts
As we navigate the ins-and-outs of the global pandemic and everything else about the year 2020, the opportunity for escapism is very important for our mental health. Sometimes, a nigga just needs to laugh, right? Well, The Root has exclusively learned that Pandora has teamed up with Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud (LOL) Radio, which…
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Chadwick Boseman's Choice to Keep His Cancer Diagnosis Private Was Inspired by His Mother, Says His Agent
When it was announced that Chadwick Boseman had died after a years-long battle with colon cancer, many fans and peers alike were stunned to learn he’d been suffering from the terminal disease. In a recent cover story for the Hollywood Reporter honoring the late actor, Boseman’s agent Michael Green opened up a bit about just…
