black america
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Dear Debate Moderators, There Are More 'Black Issues' Besides Crime and Poverty
I’m obsessed with race. After much self-reflection and receiving no less than 2,238,934 accusatory emails, tweets and DMs (not that I’m counting), I am willing to admit my personal preoccupation with racial issues. It’s not my fault. Being a black man in America may partially contribute to my mania, but I had very little input…
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Economic Anxiety Is Not Just For White Men
At some point in his 56 years of life, Cesar Alteri Sayoc—the man charged with mailing explosive devices across the country and who is the mixed son of Italian and Filipino parents—learned to cloak himself in the construct of whiteness and the benefits he likely presumed it would provide. Among those were the benefit of…
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The Biggest Winners of 2018
As we reach this final day of the year in 2018, The Root takes our annual look back at the people, organizations and movements that captured our attention over the past year. From a Bronx rapper who was unapologetically herself to a former first lady who wrote candidly about her experience in the White House…
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Watch: Symone Sanders Says This Isn’t the 1st Time We’ve Had a Racist President
Your president, Donald Trump, allegedly made a few unsavory (read: racist) comments regarding Haiti, African countries and pretty much any immigrant of color, calling their home countries “shithole countries.” While many people were shocked by his blatant racism, there are more of us who already knew of his racism. And, even further, there are people…
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The Root’s 2018 Horoscope and Prediction Guide for Black America
As we embark upon a new year, instead of looking back at the dumpster fire that was 2017, The Root has decided to look forward at what lies ahead for black America. To help us with our predictions, we contacted our own psychic and fortune-teller, LaQuanda “Punkin’” Damus, a distant relative of the heralded French…
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Judge of Characters: Reclaiming My Time … and Energy
This week, I am confident the only thing that mattered was that we all gained a new mantra: “Reclaiming my time.” Once again, thanks to the amazing Queen Auntie Maxine, not only do we have our new mantra and viral sensation, but we also have a whole new level of love and admiration for her.…
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‘State of Black America’ Town Hall Lays Out a Plan for Surviving the Trump Era
Every year around this time, the National Urban League releases a “State of Black America” report, with its successes and challenges for the future. This year, under the Trump administration, the need for a cohesive plan is more urgent than ever. “I think we are in a state of disarray,” said CNN commentator Angela Rye…
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The State of Black America: Leaders Outline the Problem, but the Solution Is Really Simple
At what point does lighting the candle instead of cursing the darkness become an example of just plain—and deliberate—political impotence? A lot has happened since Agent Orange, aka 45, aka President Donald Trump, celebrated his first 100 days by pretending that it was 365 days ago, when he was running for president, and people like…
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So, Um … Will Black People Pull Out Their Old 'Black America' IDs Again?
When I was certain that Hillary Clinton was going to win, I was going to write about how black America now has its own version of red states vs. blue states. My idea was that Michelle and Barack Obama were going to become—really, are—new heroes in black America, forever creating a new divide: black America’s…