Black Excellence
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![Naomi Osaka Tops This Year's List of Highest Paid Female Athletes [Corrected]](https://www.theroot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/bhxqrosbyslk6b9jj94v-300x200.jpg)
Naomi Osaka Tops This Year's List of Highest Paid Female Athletes [Corrected]
Tennis Star Naomi Osaka has broken the all-time record for female athlete’s earnings in a single year, according to a new report from Forbes. 22-year-old Osaka earned $37.4 million in the last 12 months from prize money and endorsements, making her the world’s highest paid female athlete. Another famous black tennis player, Serena Williams, had…
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With No Games to Play, Boston Celtics Rookie Grant Williams Creates Virtual Mentorship Program for Black and Brown Youth
With no games to play, and limited access to gyms, basketball courts and training facilities, players throughout the NBA are struggling like the rest of us to make the most of so much idle time. But instead of squandering his afternoons mowing down opponents in Fortnite or binge-watching Little Fires Everywhere, Boston Celtics rookie Grant…
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Nikole Hannah-Jones, Creator of the New York Times' 1619 Project, Awarded 2020 Pulitzer Prize
We called it: Nikole Hannah-Jones, the investigative journalist who was the brainchild of the groundbreaking 1619 project, is an embodiment of unity. Today, the Pulitzer Prize Board recognized it too by awarding Hannah-Jones the 2020 Pulitzer for Commentary. “The arts have the power to sustain, unite and inspire us during times of uncertainty and fear,”…
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White House Nominates Gen. Charles Brown to Become the First Black Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
A broken clock can be right twice a day and apparently so can a blatant xenophobe and racist. Air Force Times reports that our alleged president Donald Trump just nominated Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to become the next chief of staff of the United States Air Force. For those out the loop, Brown would…
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1st Grade Teacher Brings Black Excellence to the Classroom by Dressing Up as Historical Figures During Black History Month
LaToya McGriff is here to make a difference. While educators throughout the country have spent their February schooling students on the importance of historical black figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, the first-grade teacher from Suffolk, Va., has gone the extra mile of ensuring that her students have the opportunity to meet…
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For the Culture: Apollo Theater Announces First-Ever Multidisciplinary Commissioning Initiative
For decades, the Apollo Theater has served as both a launchpad and premiere destination for legendary black talent. In demonstrating its commitment to continue doing so, the revered venue has announced its first major multidisciplinary commissioning initiative, Apollo New Works. Backed by over $3 million in grants from the Ford Foundation and The Andrew W.…
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UT Arlington's Men's Basketball Team Honors Black Historical Figures With Pre-Game Shirts: 'We Want to Educate, We Want to Inform'
With their uninspired 13-16 record, many would pass on watching UT Arlington’s men’s basketball team. But for those who have been watching, they’ve been treated to more than just hoops. In the days leading up to February, Matt McGann, the team’s video coordinator, decided to capitalize on the team’s elevated profile in order to raise…
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ABFF Honors 2020: The House That Black Hollywood Built
The “category” was excellence, and Black Hollywood showed up and showed out. On Sunday night, the Beverly Hilton was bustling with black actors—I like to call them blacktors—producers and press gathered for the ABFF Honors, a space that Black Hollywood built to recognize our excellence in film and television. (After all, if we don’t, who…
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#BlackExcellenceWeekend: BET, NAACP Image Awards and ABFF to Pay Tribute to Us in the Same Weekend
Now that the Oscars and most major awards shows are out of the way, the American Black Film Festival and the NAACP are bringing us the recognition we deserve—not by requiring us to ask for a seat at the table, but rather creating our own with the ABFF Honors and the 51st Image Awards taking…
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BIST, or the 'Black EGOT': Celebrating the Elite Who've Won a BET Award, NAACP Image Award and Soul Train Award
Two—that’s the number of black people who have an EGOT, that is, at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. Whoopi Goldberg and John Legend are a part of that elite 15-member club. Cynthia Erivo, Billy Porter and Viola Davis are almost there. Unfortunately, we can’t count on irregular trends that may arise when…