clapback
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: The Last Refuge of the Scoundrel
A wise man (I think it was Rakim…or maybe my cousin Geet) once said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Whoever said this was obviously not a regular reader of the Friday mailbag. If they were, they’d know that scoundrels have a variety of refuges, including: “Yo’ Mama”: The last refuge of child…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: Valentine's Day Edition
Every Friday, we clap back at hateful emails, tweets, DMs and comments from our readers. But, since today is the day when we celebrate romance, I thought we should respond to some of our emails that were about love. Unfortunately, there were none. So, we’ll just do what we usually do. Our first letter is…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: The State of the Clapback Is Strong
My fellow Americans, I come before you today with good news. For nearly three years, we have addressed our readers’ emails, DMs, tweets, and comments in the weekly Mailbag. And in all those times, I have never shied away from an opportunity to clap back at my haters. But this is not Michael Harriot’s Clapback…
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Clapback Mailbag: The Lion's Solution
We interrupt our usual clapback session for a very special Mailbag. I am often asked why my writings don’t contain more solutions. Instead of complaining about racism, I guess I’m supposed to fix white people. It’s like robbing someone and then telling them to stop complaining about their money problems and work harder. But I’m…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: A Racist In the Sun
In 1951, the great American poet Langston Hughes, in his poem, “Harlem,” asked: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore—And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over—like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load. Or does…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: The Fresh Prince of Mailbags
Now this is a story all about howEvery Friday, I turn white smiles upside downI’d like to take a second…Maybe a minute or twoto tell you how I became a racist at a site called The Root. In Black America, I was born and raisedPoetry and economics is where I spent most of my daysBut…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: A Salute to the ‘Good Ones’
For too long, the writers at The Root have ignored the plight of those whose labor goes unrecognized and unheralded. In our fight for equality and justice, we have forgotten one outstanding group of Americans who are willing to lay their lives on the line. But that ends today. Today’s Clapback Mailbag is dedicated to…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: Based on an Almost True Story
Happy New Year! In 2020, we will be doing something different with the mailbag. Don’t worry: the mailbag will still come every Friday. We’ll still answer a selection of emails, tweets, DMs and comments from our readers. We will continue to fuel the mailbag with white tears. But this year, we’re also going to respond…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: Keep That Same Energy, Wypipo
For the last mailbag of 2019, we chose an email, a tweet, a DM and a comment that all ask the same question: Why are we so racist? How can we use the slur “wypipo” while condemning their use of the n-word? How can we make jokes about our Caucasian constituency? Wouldn’t we call them…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: O Come, All Ye Racists
“The Clapback Song”: Nikes roasting on an open firePete Buttigieg lying through his noseJonas Brothers singing Earth Wing & FireWhite people in plantation wedding photos Everybody knows, that phone call to Ukraine was badAnd what they did to Kaepernick ain’t rightBut white people are spitting madBecause a MAGA jaw got broken in a fight. They…