Some Thoughts
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Did Dave Chappelle Use Those Sticks & Stones to Build Himself a Lazy 'Shock Value' Box?
Dave Chappelle doesn’t really give a fuck what people think. Wait, let me reword that—he does give enough of a fuck to respond to his critics with a one-hour comedy special, but after he says his piece, you can kiss his entire black ass. And that’s that on that. In fact, he began his latest…
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Not Like This: An Open Letter to Jay-Z
Dear Shawn Corey Carter, First, I would like to tell you personally that I believe you are the greatest rapper who ever lived. I’m sure you’ve heard this before and I know that it is useless to debate such a subjective topic but it is important to know that, aside from being my favorite rapper,…
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I Played Grand Theft Auto V Nightly for 3 Years. Here’s a List of Things I Never Did as a Result
In trying to shift the blame of white domestic terrorism from the actual white people committing it and the “president” who champions and enables it, there has been a lot of talk about the dangers of video games. Listen. I played one of the most violent video games, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V online, nightly…
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Trump’s 'Blackground': An Exclusive Interview With Black People Who Attend MAGA Rallies
Black Trump supporters have come under increased scrutiny after a recent crowd engaged in racist chants. On Wednesday, entertainer Bette Midler came under fire from Trump supporters for saying Trump paid African Americans to be in “the blackground.” In June, MSNBC’s Heidi Przybyla revealed that one of the black guys regularly seen at Trump rallies…
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We Said What We Said: 10 Things The Root Wrote About America
In the 10-plus years since The Root was founded, our writers have always celebrated the Fourth of July with the knowledge that America’s original Independence Day celebration only applied to white men. Since then, this land of freedom and opportunity has graciously allowed its black citizens incremental but not-quite-full access to liberty and justice through…
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What It Means to Be Lucky in America
Eddie Adams is a remarkable young man. A gifted cellist, Adams attends George Mason University in Northern Virginia. Two weeks ago, the Washington Post profiled Adams, contrasting his love for the instrument—and a recent performance at the Kennedy Center—against his “life of poverty and torment.” Adams’ story won the hearts of readers. Yesterday, the Post…
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A Tale of Two Churches: How the Notre Dame Cathedral Illustrates America's Unwillingness to Acknowledge Black Suffering
Police gun down so many black men, I can’t even recall which one is the impetus for this story. But a few years ago, after yet another one of us was mowed down in the street in cold blood, I arrived to my TV writers room in a less than pleasant mood. I was tired.…
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LOL, America. You Almost Got Me
I gotta hand it to you, America. This extended April Fool’s Day joke has been one of the greatest hijinks of all time. Unlike some people who get pranked, I’m not going to pretend that I knew what was going on all along. I thought it was real. It was so well done that I…
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An Analysis of Sen. Cory Booker's Failed Black Handshake With CNN Host Don Lemon By The Root's 'Dap Analysis Pack'
There are only a few holy tenets that all black boys must know by a certain age. One is learning how to tie a durag properly so that you don’t have lines embedded in your waves. Another is learning how to properly care for your sneakers. Arguably the top of this list would be dap;…
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A Late Thank You Letter to White America, Who Fox News Says Deserves 'Credit' For Ending Slavery
Dear America, When I say “America,” I obviously mean the ones who want to be made “great again.” The ones upon which God shed his grace. The ones who live under liberty and justice. The ones who reside in the land of the free and the home of the brave. When I say “America,” you…