Race Matters
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‘I’m White,’ Obviously Black Teenager Tells Dr. Phil
Self-hatred is nothing to laugh about—neither are delusional tendencies. That said, there was something so surreal about the spectacle of a 16-year-old black girl named Treasure insisting she was white on Dr. Phil’s unbelievably long-running talk show on Wednesday that The Root staff couldn’t help but shake our heads in confusion and laugh uncomfortably. We…
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White Man Verbally Assaults Older Black Woman on Flight, Calls Her an ‘Ugly Black Bastard,’ Airline Does Nothing
Racism, once again, reared its ugly head in the form of a pasty-faced colonizer who had the nerve to call an elderly black woman he was seated near on a flight an “ugly black bastard.” And despite this display of verbal abuse the man was not, I repeat, was not, removed from the plane for…
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The Fenty Effect? Amy Schumer Pulls Out of Super Bowl Ads in Solidarity With Colin Kaepernick
Remember when we found out that capitalist behemoth Amazon had upped its minimum wage to $15, and we knew there was some kind of catch? Turns out there was—to pay for the living wage, employees agreed to give up monthly bonuses and stock grants. So, when news began blowing that comedian Amy Schumer is turning…
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Republicans Pimp Black Women’s Voices in Racist Radio Political Ad Pandering for Black Votes
We are fully into the political season for the 2018 midterm elections, and the political ads in which candidates take swipes at each other, boast about their accomplishments and say anything that will help them get votes are in full swing. The black vote is of particular concern during this election. We have already seen…
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Remy Ma Misses the Mark and the Nuance on Why Other Races Shouldn’t Say the N-Word
A question for the black people reading this only (even though I know white people will answer anyway because y’all can’t help yourselves): Are you opposed to non-black people using or referring to you by the n-word? This is a topic that came up for discussion on this week’s episode of State of the Culture…
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White Woman Calls Cops on Black Youth Anti-Violence Rally: 'It's Like a Riot Out Here'
Black Charleston, S.C., residents are calling for the firing of a white gas station manager who recently called the cops on a group of anti-violence protesters for the awful crime of hanging out outside a gas station while a few of their members went inside to make purchases. In an even more bizarre—though, unfortunately, not…
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White Woman Who Blocked Black Neighbor From Entering Apartment Building Speaks Out
What do you do if you are a white woman who suddenly becomes the star of a viral video on social media which shows you harassing a black man who lives in your building and was just trying to get home to his apartment one Friday night—especially if that video leads to you being fired…
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Why Do White People Feel Entitled to Police Black People?
By now you have probably heard the story of what happened to D’Arreion Toles—a black man living in St. Louis—Friday night when he returned home to the luxury apartment building he lives in. In case you haven’t, here is a brief rundown: Toles returned home and was stopped by his neighbor—now identified as Hilary Brooke…
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A Bigot Is as a Bigot Does? No. Racism Can Be Arrogant or ‘Compassionate’ or Just Convenient
Black Americans and white Americans don’t experience race the same way. Given that, it should surprise no one that we don’t speak or think about it similarly. We have to find a way to bridge that divide. Like it or not, too many white allies and potential allies are so deep in denial about racism…