Kendrick Lamar Sent Coded Message To Black America During Super Bowl, Amanda Gorman Warns Florida Parents After Inaugural Poem Gets Banned, Why Super Bowl Star Jalen Hurts Rents Modest Philly Apartment, What Happened During The Red Summer of 1919 And More

A collection of our most popular culture stories from the week.

Kendrick Lamar Sent A Coded Message To Black America During Super Bowl. And We Got It

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Mazur

If the only takeaway you got from Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance was that he gave another deathblow to Drake’s career – I’ll need you to watch it again. And probably again after that. – Ernest Owens Read More

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
5 Best Men’s and 5 Best Women’s Looks from the Met Gala 2025

After Florida Banned Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem, She Sent This Warning to Parents

National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman speaks on the third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 21, 2024 Photo: Getty Images Mandel NGAN / AFP

When Amanda Gorman read her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at former President Joe Biden’s inauguration, she became the youngest poet to deliver a poem at a presidential inauguration. Although the 26-year-old Los Angeles native says she felt an immense sense of pride at being included in such an important moment in American history, she had no idea her work would resonate the way it did. And in a recent interview with “Meet The Press,” Gorman opened up to moderator Kristen Welker about how she felt when she learned that there was an active campaign to remove “The Hill We Climb” from schools around the country. – Angela Johnson Read More

Why Super Bowl Star Jalen Hurts, With His $255 Million Contract, Rents a Modest Philly Apartment

Photo: Getty Images Jamie Squire

After winning his first Super Bowl, you could expect Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts would need a bigger trophy cabinet, but it seems the NFL star has no plans to upgrade his lifestyle, and he has a pretty good reason for it. – Phenix S Halley Read More

Jalen Hurts and Bry Burrows Love Story

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles and fiancee, Bry Burrows, embrace after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Getty Images Jamie Squire

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has a lot to celebrate these days. Hurts, who just led the Eagles to a 40 – 22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to become one of just four Black quarterbacks with a Super Bowl “W” under his belt, is about to join an even more exclusive team, as he prepares to say “I Do” to his fiancée Bryonna “Bry” Rivera Burrows. And because there’s nothing we love more than Black love around here. we’re taking a little time out to celebrate their story. – Angela Johnson Read More

This Black Philly Eagles Player Takes a Shot at Travis Kelce, and Taylor Swift Fans are Dragging Him Over It

Photo: Getty Images Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire // Frazer Harrison // Cooper Neill

Philadelphia Eagles star C.J. Gardner-Johnson is feeling what it’s like to be an enemy of the Swifties after attacking Travis Kelce on social media. But before he even has a chance to respond, his mother is coming to the rescue. – Noah A. McGee Read More

You Heard of the Tulsa Massacre, But I Bet Nobody Told You About Red Summer of 1919.

Photo: Getty Images Unidentified Photographer, June 1921

Most Black Americans have never heard of the Red Summer of 1919…but it is an element of Black history that we need to pay attention to. This country specializes in committing monstrous atrocities and then ignoring the consequences of their actions. It happened with Native Americans and the Trail of Tears. And, of course, it happened with Black folks. This truth is best captured when we consider what happened in the year 1919. – Lawrence Ware Read More

This Black Commercial Pilot Went Viral For Having Locs and a Grill…You Can Probably Guess Why

Screenshot: TikTok

Even though social media can instrumental in building community amongst Black folks, it has become just as easy to peddle hate. One TikTok user was reminded of this fact when he posted about being a commercial pilot. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Etsy Sellers Clapped Back at Kanye West’s Anti-Semitic Shirt With This Anti-Kanye Tee, And That’s Not All…

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: (L-R) Kanye West and Bianca Censori attend the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer

Earlier this week, we told you that Kanye West — who now goes by Ye — bought local ad time in Los Angeles during the Super Bowl to promote the latest from his Yeezy fashion line. The ad, which was shot on his iPhone from a dentist chair (we’re also confused), encouraged viewers to visit his website where the only thing for sale…was a t-shirt with a swastika on it. – Angela Johnson Read More

‘Dirty South’ Georgia Lawmakers Want to Do What to Cornbread!?

Photo: Getty Images Karen Warren / Houston Chronicl

While many states have a plethora of foods recognized as “state foods,” it seems one southern state is looking to add cornbread to its growing palette… yes, that’s right— cornbread. – Phenix S Halley Read More

The Great Marcus Garvey and His Scandalous Tale of Two Wives

Marcus Garvey “Africa’s Provisional President” during the renaming of the ship from the “General G.W. Goethals” to the S.S Booker T. Washington. Photo: Getty Images NY Daily News

We know Marcus Garvey as a powerful figure in Black history who dedicated much of his life to promoting self-love among Black people and encouraging an eventual return to their ancestral homeland of Africa. An outspoken Black nationalist who is said to have influenced other civil rights leaders including Malcolm X, many of Garvey’s supporters believe his 1923 conviction on mail fraud charges was politically motivated. However, former President Joe Biden issued a posthumous pardon to Garvey on his way out of the White House in January. – Angela Johnson Read More

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

The Worst Oscars Red Carpet Trainwrecks Over the Years

The Worst Oscars Red Carpet Trainwrecks Over the Years

As the 2026 Oscars nears, let’s take a look at some of celeb faves who’ve had their fair share of fashion misses on the famous red carpet! …
More Telltale Signs that Trump Is Quickly Running Out of Time

More Telltale Signs that Trump Is Quickly Running Out of Time

With Trump facing continuous protests, lawsuits and dissent within his own party, growing pressure could mean a disastrous ending for him …
EXCLUSIVE: NCAAP President Derrick Johnson Explains His Expectations for State of the Union and What's at Stake for Black Voters

EXCLUSIVE: NCAAP President Derrick Johnson Explains His Expectations for State of the Union and What’s at Stake for Black Voters

The Root spoke to NAACP President Derrick Johnson about why he has “no expectations” for Trump’s State of the Union address …
How the Barbz Are Responding to Nicki Minaj Going Full MAGA

How the Barbz Are Responding to Nicki Minaj Going Full MAGA

Following her MAGA events, Nicki Minaj has the Barbz divided with some stuck between sticking beside their Queen or stepping away…for good …
Proof That Jim Crow Era Was Not That Long Ago And Why This is Important to Know

Proof That Jim Crow Era Was Not That Long Ago And Why This is Important to Know

Jim Crow laws were in place not that long ago. Even though many photos from that time are in black and white, the history is far from ancient and the remnants are all around us …
Mississippi Black Woman Desegregated High School—Then Faced Terror and Isolation

Mississippi Black Woman Desegregated High School—Then Faced Terror and Isolation

Mary Smith-Blackmon was among the first Black students in a Canton, MIssissippi school and shared what it was like to eperience integration in isolation …
A Look at Trump’s Most Misleading Claims Before His State of the Union Address

A Look at Trump’s Most Misleading Claims Before His State of the Union Address

Before Trump’s State of the Union address, let’s get into all of the false claims he’s made about the country and what’s really at stake for Republicans …
Black and MAGA Folks Angry At Gavin Newsom For Implying Black People Can't Read... But That's Not The Full Story

Black and MAGA Folks Angry At Gavin Newsom For Implying Black People Can’t Read… But That’s Not The Full Story

Gavin Newsom Is Receiving Backlash Online After Telling Black Folks He’s Just Like Them Because He Can’t Read… Except That’s Not What Happened …
Celeb With Tourette Syndrome Speaks Out After N-Word Remark at BAFTAs, But the Internet Isn't Here for It

Celeb With Tourette Syndrome Speaks Out After N-Word Remark at BAFTAs, But the Internet Isn’t Here for It

John Davidson has finally broken his silence about the racist ordeal at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. But what he has to say isn’t landing too well with folks online …
Why This New York Mom Was Forced to Deliver Her Own Baby Alone in a Hospital Bathroom

Why This New York Mom Was Forced to Deliver Her Own Baby Alone in a Hospital Bathroom

Long Island parents are demanding a hospital to take accountability after they delivered their newborn on-site…but in a bathroom …
DMX's Son Shares 'Spiritual' Moment With His Father As He Transitioned

DMX’s Son Shares ‘Spiritual’ Moment With His Father As He Transitioned

DMX’s son Xavier Simmons is opening up about a truly unbelievable moment he shared with his father as he transitioned …
The State of the Union Address Was <i>Not</i> Supposed to Look As It Does Today

The State of the Union Address Was Not Supposed to Look As It Does Today

Which president gave a 10-minute State of the Union address? Which U.S. president came up with the name? What do Obama and Trump’s speeches have in common? …
7 Times Black Folks Almost Became U.S. President

7 Times Black Folks Almost Became U.S. President

Jesse Jackson, Charlene Mitchell and other Black Americans who ran for president …
Gabourey Sidibe's Husband Has Shocking Health Scare

Gabourey Sidibe’s Husband Has Shocking Health Scare

‘Precious’ star Gabourey Sidibe’s husband is facing a startling health challenge and is now sharing where he stands now with fans …
Black Woman Explains Why She Only Dates AI

Black Woman Explains Why She Only Dates AI

A 34-year-old Black woman told a CBS News correspondent that a chatbot has given her the same satisfaction as a relationship with a human being, but eliminates the risk …
White NYC College Professor Makes Racist Comments on Work Zoom When She Thought She Was on Mute

White NYC College Professor Makes Racist Comments on Work Zoom When She Thought She Was on Mute

Allyson Friedman has identified herself as the college professor caught spewing racist language during a virtual council meeting …
So The Shrinking White Baby Data is Why The World Turned Upside Down?

So The Shrinking White Baby Data is Why The World Turned Upside Down?

OPINION: As census data signals a shrinking white majority, the politics of panic move from whisper campaigns to policy …
Why Black People Have a Right to Be Outraged at the 2026 BAFTA Controversy

Why Black People Have a Right to Be Outraged at the 2026 BAFTA Controversy

After the racist remark was heard around the world at the 2026 BAFTAs, why are Black people being asked to give more grace than they are the room to be upset? …
Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo Subjected to Racial Slur at 2026 BAFTAs, But the Story Is Much Layered Than You Think

Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo Subjected to Racial Slur at 2026 BAFTAs, But the Story Is Much Layered Than You Think

Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo experienced a shocking moment at the 2026 BAFTAs. But there’s way more to the story …
Why Rappers Are Entering The Political Arena

Why Rappers Are Entering The Political Arena

Will we see more rappers becoming politicians after Uncle Luke announced he is running for a seat in Congress? …