Ananda Lewis, Television Host and Model, Dies Following a Long Breast Cancer Fight
Why Audra McDonald’s Tony Awards Performance Should Convince Patti LuPone to Have Several Seats
Kelis Admits She Homeschools Her Kids With This Unorthodox Method and Folks Are Scratching Their Heads
What Really Happened To YouTuber P2 Who Was Found Dead in Mail Room at the Age of 26
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'Cosmology Is Black—It’s Blackity-Black': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Explores The Disordered Cosmos With Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Real talk? The Root’s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton and I consider ourselves to be pretty smart people—but scientifically minded, we are not. So when we received a pitch to review and speak with cosmologist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein on her first book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, we were both…
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How Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin Honor Black Fatherhood in Netflix's Concrete Cowboy
“My late dad was a great guy to me…the best advice he said to me was always try and look someone in the eyes when you’re talking to them and just read that person. Let them connect with you or don’t. But do it through the eyes.” — Idris Elba, Actor, Producer, “Concrete Cowboy” text…
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In Moonlight, Barry Jenkins Secured the Bag, Too—Leaves Amazon Studios for HBO/HBO Max Overall TV Deal
Barry Jenkins’ newly anticipated (and deftly marketed) Amazon Prime Video limited series The Underground Railroad hasn’t even premiered yet and he’s already moving on to a new creative relationship with another network/streamer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning filmmaker (and his filmmaking collective Pastel) has signed a two-year, first-look TV deal with HBO as…
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Netflix Is Not Fooling Around With Its New Black Content in April 2021
Do you already have a headache from reading various articles that you thought were real—only to be reminded that it’s April Fools’ Day and every shock tweet or news is a whole-ass lie? Well, I hope I can ease your tension with this next lineup from Netflix’s Strong Black Lead! Thankfully, this is not a…
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This Message Is Brought to You by the Letter ‘D’: Nearly 140 Documentary Filmmakers Call Out PBS for Lack of Diversity in Programming
In news that should surprise no one—because, let’s face it: various publications, platforms, and organizations have been getting aired out for their discriminatory practices, as of late—PBS is getting called to the fire for their lack of diversity and support when it comes to creators of color in their programming. NPR reports that BIPOC-led collective Beyond…
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The 1st Project From Lionsgate/Nikole Hannah-Jones' 1619 Project Deal Will Be a Hulu Docuseries, With Roger Ross Williams Producing
Let’s take you on a trip to memory lane! Back in July 2020, The Root exclusively announced that Nikole Hannah-Jones, Lionsgate, the New York Times and Oprah Winfrey were teaming up in a major content deal to adapt The 1619 Project into a portfolio of films, television programming and other content across studio platforms. Well,…
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Ryan Coogler, Shaka King and Charles King Talk Judas and the Black Messiah and Its ‘Bittersweet’ History-Making Success
When Ryan Coogler, Shaka King, and Charles King first sat down to discuss the now Oscar-nominated film Judas and the Black Messiah, I’m sure they never imagined the level of buzz it would receive. And by buzz, I mean multiple wins and nominations across the African-American Film Critics Association, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, Black Reel, and…
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It's OK, Y'all, FKA Twigs and Lil Nas X Had 'Gentle, Honest Conversations' About 'Cellophane' and 'Montero' Similarities
In case you missed it amid conservative concern and sneaker suits, there was another skirmish about Lil Nas X’s new, much-discussed song and music video, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” Shortly after Lil Nas X released the video, fans began to notice similarities between his video and the video for FKA twigs’ “Cellophane,” (a…
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Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Brings Empathy, Curiosity to the Forefront With Roy's Job Fair
Do you hate your job? According to a poll conducted by Gallup, there’s an 85 percent chance you do. And that’s perfectly understandable, considering you haven’t gotten a raise in years, the work fridge is always out of creamer and your boss is an unrepentant asshole. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. empathizes with your plight; and…
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PageTurners: The Lyrical, the Literal and the Literary Worlds of Black Performance
Performance occurs in a myriad of ways, from spoken and written poetry to taking the stage, to playing a game of spades. In fictional universes, particularly in fantastical worlds, a character’s performance can range from their abilities to their descriptions. This week, the intricate tapestry of Black performance is explored through many different lenses in…