The Tragic Story of Florence Ballard, The Soulful Singer Who Started The Supremes
A Timeline of Kim Kardashian and Ray J’s Decades-Long Rocky Relationship
Exclusive: The Honey Pot Co. CEO Beatrice Dixon Shares Her Ancestral Recipe for Empire Building in New Memoir
Rapper Lil Jon Break Silence After His Son’s Tragic Death
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A Respectability Rumble of Hotep-tly Hostile Proportions Is Brewing. Ashiness Expected to Follow
Before we begin please join me, my kings and kweens in a word of prayer: First, giving honor to Black Jesus, who is the head of my life. Secondly, Black Jesus, I’d like to say thank you for giving me the divine feminine right to dwell in the Hotep House of the Lord forever and…
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WB Is Reportedly Committing to a Black Director for Its Black Superman Film. Let's Go Up, Up and Away With Our Guesses
Put on your Clark Kent glasses, because we have some super-scoop for y’all! In February, many blerds collectively lost their shit (Joe Jurado, we see you!) when it was announced that acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates would be writing the screenplay for Warner Bros.’ next Superman film, which will be produced by J.J. Abrams and set…
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Como La Beyoncé? Let’s Talk About That Scene From Selena: The Series, Shall We?
Beyoncé?! (Now y’all know I couldn’t pass that up.) Part two of Selena: The Series, which follows the life and tragic end of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, recently dropped on Netflix, and boy, oh boy does it have fans talking—just not in the way you would expect. I’ll explain. You see, in episode six, fans…
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The Root Is Nominated for a Webby Award. Here's How You Can Help Us Clinch That 'W'
We in first place, we in first place, Webby for Public Service and Activism—we in first place! (Or whatever 2 Chainz said.) Seriously though, folks: We here at The Root are excited to tell you that we’ve been nominated for a Webby for the third year in a row! Our amazing video series Unpack That,…
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9 Predictions and General Thoughts About J. Cole's Newly Announced Album, The Off-Season
On May 4, Jermaine Cole, aka Light-Skinned Jermaine and famously known as J. Cole, announced the May 14 release of his sixth studio album, The Off-Season, along with (presumably) the album cover. As is always the case when Cole announced a project, drops a loosie and/or a project, the Internets light up—no pun intended—in all…
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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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New Pokémon Snap Is One of the Most Delightful Games on the Switch Right Now
Full disclosure: The older I’ve gotten, the harder it’s become for me to invest in massive, narrative-driven games. A large part of that is because when I finally have time to play a game, I want something I can easily pick up, play, and feel like I accomplished something. It’s why games like Call of…
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Peabody Awards 2021: All In: The Fight For Democracy, I May Destroy You, Euphoria Among Nominees
On Tuesday, the Peabody Awards announced the nominees for its upcoming 81st awards ceremony. The winners are set to be announced virtually in June, according to a press release sent to The Root, and will recognize the most compelling and empowering stories and across a variety of programming. Per usual, we like to give major…
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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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If You've Been Longing for a Four-Hour Documentary About Mike Tyson, Your Prayers Have Finally Been Answered
Mike Tyson, who—at 54 years old, still somehow talks shit, smokes weed and beats people up for a living—is the subject of a new documentary, courtesy of the fine folks at ABC News. The upcoming four-hour doc (yes, you read that correctly) Mike Tyson: The Knockout “will chronicle the former champion’s climb, crash, and comeback,…