art
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The Grammys Made a Surprising Decision About Tyla and Black Twitter is Not Happy About It
The Recording Academy made a shocking decision about the artist’s self-titled album.
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The Dopest Black Artists You Need to Know Now
There’s a digital community curating the work of some of the most talented artists of color.
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'Art and Protest Will Forever Be Bound Together': Kimberly Drew on the Fine Art of Activism
When it comes to handing out our annual accolades, we consider ourselves a pretty discerning bunch here at The Root; with so much Black excellence in the ether, we have to be. So, the fact that Kimberly Drew—also known to hundreds of thousands of her online followers by her “Museum Mammy” tag—has been honored as…
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Gala Goes Virtual: Beyoncé, Solange, Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion and More to Appear at WACO Theater Center's Virtual Celebration
Did you miss the stylish spectacle of the Wearable Art Gala this year? Are you quietly a fan of “Ms. Tina’s Corny Jokes”? Want to see how much Blue Ivy’s art allowance increased this year? If you answered yes to any of the above, you’ll want to tune into the WACO Theater Center’s Virtual Celebration…
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Aloe Blacc, Arisha Hatch and Kierna Mayo Discuss The Transformative Nature of Art at The Root Institute
Presumably, ever since art has existed, there have been conversations about what art actually means. And over time, the most effective ways to use art—protest, social change, allegory, etc.—became as essential to the conversation. In the Black community, where all art is under a microscope, those conversations of interpretation and use are central; no movie,…
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'Billie Holiday Is Probably One of Our First Civil Rights Leaders': Lee Daniels Discusses His Upcoming Biopic at The Root Institute
It’s been nearly 50 years since the debut of Lady Sings the Blues, which was a huge inspiration for writer-director-producer Lee Daniels—so much so, that he is now directing his own biographical drama about the iconic Billie Holiday, The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Through her art—especially her stirring song, “Strange Fruit”—Holiday became pivotal in…
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Lee Daniels Discusses How He Juxtaposes Art With Activism at The Root Institute
Lee Daniels has something to say. Known for the dramatic flair sprinkled throughout his art, the writer-director-producer never shies away from controversial and emotional topics as has been displayed in his works such as Empire, Star and Precious. Daniels has routinely prioritized the importance of telling real and gritty stories within the Black community, especially…
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![Artists' Retreat: Looking for a Safe, Socially Distanced Activity This Weekend? Make It Museum-Worthy! [Updated]](https://www.theroot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/hvplia7jffdf1tedg2xg-300x189.png)
Artists' Retreat: Looking for a Safe, Socially Distanced Activity This Weekend? Make It Museum-Worthy! [Updated]
We know, we know—summer’s half-over, and you are over being indoors. So are we—but safety first, Kids. That said, with the future of education being a contentious issue at present, a little arts education might be safer than you think. While there aren’t many public activities we feel comfortable recommending as COVID-19 numbers continue to…
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Kanye West's High School Artwork Appraised on 'Antiques Roadshow'
As if you didn’t know, art has been in Kanye West’s life for as long as he’s been able to talk about it. The rapper/producer/overall creative was enrolled at Chicago’s Hyde Park Art Academy at the age of 4, and of course, dropped out of Chi-Town’s American Academy of Art, where he was studying to…