Clapback/Mailbag
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: The Black Lists
A list of reasons why, each week, the Clapback Mailbag responds to emails, direct messages, tweets and comments from readers: Because we care. Where else would we respond to this racist bullshit? We asked, “What Would Jesus Do,” and he responded: “What the hell is a tweet?” It’s what Martin Luther King, Jr. would have…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: What Anyone Would Do
A few weeks ago, I went to a comedy show to see one of my best friends perform. As I walked in, I noticed a dude wearing a dashiki and a baseball cap with a silhouette of Africa and his white girlfriend whispering and staring at me. Since I figured out that my mother had…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: For Your Consideration
One day soon, we’re probably going to have the Clapback Mailbag Awards. We’re working on a sponsor to present this idea with the prestige it deserves. Hopefully, we can convince a mail company like UPS or FedEx to pony up the money for the statues (which will probably be called the “golden envelope”). Or maybe…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: Birds, Boxes and Other Bullshit No One Believes
So, ummm … about this Birdbox thing. Wait. We’ll get to that. But before that, y’all know what this is. Our clapback congregation meets weekly to discuss these matters. Each Friday, we faithfully go through the emails, comments, tweets and messages to explain, apologize or elaborate on the things that caused consternation among The Root’s…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: A Visit From St. Clapback
Twas the Friday before Christmas, when all through the siteNot a creature was angry, except for the whitesThe mailbag was filled with Caucasians seeing redAbout words we had written and stuff that we said When in my inbox there arose such a clatterI logged in to my email to see what was the matterIt turns…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: The Gray Area
For too long, The Root has ignored an important segment of our readership. In our eagerness to answer the emails, tweets and messages, we have failed to address our biggest fans: The grays. If you are new to The Root or Kinja in general, you should know that comments are approved by other readers or…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: What the FAWQ?
Don’t you hate when you go see one of your favorite artists in concert, but instead of the hits, they play songs from their new project? Well, you don’t have to worry about that with today’s mailbag. Today, we are just playing the classics. This week’s selection of emails, tweets and direct messages answer two…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: ’Tis the Season To Be Racist
While the Clapback Mailbag sometimes feels negative, I actually get excited opening the tweets, emails, comments and messages to see what gifts The Root’s readers have bestowed upon us. And even though I enjoy it, there has always been something missing. You see, the Clapback Mailbag is not about receiving racist and pointed commentary; it’s…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: Imagine
Last night was The Root 100, our annual salute to black excellence. After the event was over, the entire staff went out for a late dinner … Except for me. Most of our staff are off today … Except for me. The reason I went home early and insisted on doing a mailbag is that…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: One of the Good Ones
I am the threat. Look at these hands, all knuckle and fist potential. Look at this skin that yields to nothing, not even the sun. Even my hair refuses to behave. I am the defiler of white women’s purity. The thug. The thing to fear. The threat. And the only way to mitigate the perception…