culture

  • Why Are TLC Going on Tour With the Dude From Sugar Ray?

    Last month, TLC celebrated the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album, Ooooooohhh … on the TLC Tip. Last week, TLC announced that they’ll be headlining the “I Love the 90’s Tour: The Party Continues,” which will feature Montell Jordan, Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Naughty by Nature and Biz Markie. Presently, I’m wondering how a…

  • Unique Views, Episode 35: You Might Be Woke, but You Ain’t Belafonte Woke

    Being awake doesn’t mean you are woke. I’ve tried to explain this to my co-host and The Root’s creative producer, Danielle Young, aka Ms. Patti LaDanielle, but she doesn’t get it. Danielle is asleep. Fine, maybe she is awake, but she is definitely not woke. Fine. Fine. She’s woke, but I say this reluctantly because…

  • Watch: Black Teen Myles Loftin Creates the Most Colorful and Refreshing Images of Black Men in Hoodies

    Myles Loftin is a 19-year-old artist with heart and a yearning to see himself represented in media as a young black man who is not a thug, dangerous or gangster. He smiles. He makes jokes. He wears hoodies. So he created HOODED, a photo and video project that features young black men in colorful hoodies.…

  • Bless Her Heart, Iggy Azalea Is Still Trying

    Who told Iggy Azalea to stop working with black people from Atlanta and pretending to be the love child of Charli Baltimore and Diamond from Crime Mob? Although “Fancy,” that fake-ass DJ Mustard track, was a monstrous hit, beyond that song, the only other decent ones Azalea ever managed to release were “Pu$$y” and “Murda…

  • Watch: Angie Thomas on Writing Her Best-Selling Young-Adult Novel Inspired by Oscar Grant

    Angie Thomas’ debut novel, The Hate U Give, is a must-read for our young people. It tells the story of 16-year-old Starr, who lives in a poor neighborhood but goes to a prep school in a wealthy suburb. She witnesses her best friend, Khalil, murdered by police. It cleverly tells the common, opposing narratives that…

  • In Case You Forgot, Cops Are Still Killing Black People

    Does Donald Trump go to the beauty-supply store to buy his Remy hair or does he send the Secret Service? Will Blue Ivy be the lead singer of Destiny’s Grandchildren, or will the BeyHov twins form their own rap group? When Republicans pass the Affordable Health Care Act, will you be able to purchase handguns…

  • Scandal Recap: What in the Huck Is Going On?

    Last week, Jake the Snake dragged (no, literally dragged) Olivia Pope into the woods to show her that Jennifer Fields was still alive. This week, Olivia interrupts a sexy boxing sesh between Huck and his adorable new lady friend, Meg, and summons Huck to some truck stop where Jake left her. Olivia knows that her…

  • 10 Thoughts on Drake and His ‘Playlist,’ More Life

    Disclaimer: I’m not sure I’m a Drake fan, but I’m not NOT a Drake fan, either. I listen to all the albums and have listened to Drake songs when washing dishes, changing diapers and eating brussels sprouts. I’m an informed listener, so I’m speaking on More Life as a music enthusiast and avid consumer who…

  • Empire Is Back: 5 Things That Will Make the 2nd Half of the Season Even Better

    Yes, lawd! Empire returns tonight with the second half of its third season. Back in December, the midseason finale ended with a bang—and for once it didn’t involve Lucious shooting someone or him getting shot. Still, Lucious tried to kill Angelo Dubois’ mayoral career—or at least leave a nasty scar. The Lyons’ eldest son, Andre,…

  • Being Mary Jane Recap: M.J. Finally Gets What She Wants, but at What Cost?

    The midseason finale is here, and Mary Jane just might finally have what she’s being working so hard for: Ronda’s anchor chair. Or at least that’s what it’s been twisted into, since Mary Jane was forced to play dirty with the woman who was once her supreme idol. Oh, but it can never be so…