culture
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The Incredible Legend of the Black Church
Today, for Black History Month, I’d like to tell you about something that has been long forgotten in the legacy of Africans in America. You may have heard these stories and dismissed them as fabulous folklore or passed-down legends that bloomed into fable over the years, but trust me, this ain’t no Paul Bunyan fairy…
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Watch: In Focus With Director Justin Tipping, Whose Film Kicks Challenges Our Perception of Manhood
Editor’s note: In Focus is a The Root TV series showcasing the new wave of black filmmakers. Justin Tipping is the writer and director of Kicks, a story set in Oakland, Calif., about a young teenager whose dream is to own a pair of fresh Air Jordans. Soon after he gets his hands on them,…
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The Quad Executive Producer Felicia D. Henderson Is TV Writing-and-Producing Royalty
If there’s ever been anyone who can speak on the ins and outs of being a television writer and producer, it’s Felicia D. Henderson. Henderson’s newest show, The Quad, BET’s HBCU drama, which she co-writes and executive-produces, has received rave reviews since its premiere. The New York Times said that the show puts important issues…
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Unique Views, Episode 31: 10 Minutes With Loretta Devine on a Shaky Cellphone
When we tell y’all that we are trying, I don’t think y’all understand what that really means. This podcast is held together with shoestring and bubblegum. It’s not a joke when we call ourselves the Sanford and Son of podcasts, and as Ms. Patti LaDanielle, aka The Root’s social-content producer, Danielle Young, told me, “Yeah,…
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The Scholar: Samuel K. Roberts Jr. on Drug Policy, Radical Recovery and ‘Capital Flight’ [Retracted]
RETRACTED (6/12/18): This story has been removed because we have discovered it was in breach of our editorial standards. If you’d like to know more, you can read an editor’s note here. A cached version of the story is available here for transparency.
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Scandal Recap: Mr. Beene Goes to Prison
Times are hard when you’re doing hard time. That’s what Cyrus Beene learned during this week’s episode of Scandal. Last week, Cyrus’ ex-lover Tom Larsen confessed to the feds that he assassinated President-elect Frankie Vargas at Cyrus’ request. This week, Attorney General David Rosen drops Cyrus off at the local penitentiary, where Cyrus is summarily…
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Watch: What Does Freedom Mean to the Cast of Underground?
The cast of Underground has to come to work every day knowing they’re about to portray slaves whose main goal in life is freedom for themselves and their families. That is no simple task, even for the best of actors. “We’re not only looking for freedom in Underground; we are still looking for freedom,” said…
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Hampton University President Pens Letter to BET Slamming The Quad for Its Depiction of HBCUs
Since its debut, BET’s The Quad has been the topic of debate for both fans and critics alike. The show, which focuses on life at the fictional Georgia A&M University, seemingly offers a glimpse into life on the campus of an HBCU, but many have said that its portrayals grossly exaggerate what HBCU life is…
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Watch: Black Power and Creative Expression
The video below was published in partnership with Peabody Spotlight, a digital series produced by the Peabody Media Center at the University of Georgia in commemoration of Black History Month. Each part of the series draws from the vast Peabody Awards archives, the third-largest repository of audiovisual materials in the United States. Peabody Spotlight will…