culture
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100 Years a US Territory: Danish Government Attempts to Atone for Slavery as US Virgin Islands Celebrate Transfer Day
In 1493, Christopher Columbus “discovered” four islands that were already inhabited by the Ciboney, Caribs and Arawaks. But as we all know, this didn’t matter to good ole Columbus, and in honor of St. Ursula and her group of holy virgins, Columbus named the islands “the Virgins.” We now call them St. Croix, St. Thomas,…
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9 Times Michelle Obama Texture-Teased Us
Around this time five years ago, the natural-hair-blog streets went into a full tailspin when a photo of Lady Obama wearing a kinky, curly, asymmetrical style circulated the internets. Twitter detectives soon discovered that the image had been photoshopped, and our textured-black-hair-in-the-White House dreams were dimmed. But Sunday evening, we got a glimpse of that…
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Without Question, 1997 Was (Maybe, Possibly) the Best Year in Black Music
1997 was the best year in black music. Let me rephrase: 1997 was probably the best year in black music. I know. You think I’m crazy. Hear me out—but first, a caveat. I admit that, as a child of the ’90s, my musical tastes are deeply influenced by my proclivity for hip-hop and ’90s…
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Ann Coulter Is Dating Jimmie Walker. Are Your Eyes Burning, Too?
Old people love to tell other people’s business without a single care in the world. And why should they care? They’re old as hell, so there has to be a certain reverence from anyone their junior. Well, if you were raised right, you show respect to the AARP demo, but even if you don’t, they…
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Started From the Blog, Now We’re Here: When Shonda Rhimes Wants to Turn Your Book Into a TV Show, Let Her
We’re living in a DIY culture, and there’s no one more do-it-yourself than bloggers. Blogging is a means of communication, self-expression, culture, news and so much more. And the people who create blogs are typically ridiculously talented and effortlessly wear the responsibility of being a voice for their culture. Bloggers are inspiring, to say the…
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Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Jeh Johnson Respond to The Root’s Morehouse Investigation
As Morehouse College’s alumni, students and faculty discover the years of obfuscation by the board of trustees revealed in The Root’s investigative piece “The War at Morehouse,” three of the college’s most distinguished and successful alumni weighed in on the revelations exposed in our probe. Academy Award-nominated actor Samuel. L Jackson (Class of ’72), former…
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Reports of Tension at Morehouse Have Led to ‘State of Confusion’ at Famed HBCU
Last week The Root published an extensive investigative piece that revealed years of turmoil between the faculty, students and board of trustees at Morehouse College. Since these revelations were made public, the repercussions have echoed through the halls of the 150-year-old institution, resulting in what the college’s Student Government Association president has termed a “state of…
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The National Interest: Teaching Gender Studies in Sex Ed Courses Is a Matter of Life and Death
Editor’s note: Once a month, the National Interest column will tackle broader questions about what the country should do to increase educational opportunities for black youths. We can’t teach safe sex if kids don’t understand their own and others’ gender identities. Women across the gender spectrum are being killed and raped every day, but our…
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7 Reasons Black America Should Fight Marijuana Prohibition
Take a deep breath. Can you smell the weed smoke billowing in from Colorado and California? Have you read about the citizens of Maine and Massachusetts who turned into zombies from puffing blunts all day? Have you seen the news reports about the scores of people in Oregon and Nevada who overdosed on marijuana? No.…