culture
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Unique Views, Episode 21: Why Are Black Women ‘Hidden Figures’?
I don’t hate my co-star and daughter in this podcast game, Ms. Patti Patti LaDanielle, aka Danielle Young, The Root’s social-content producer, but because of Donald Trump’s Russian-tainted presidential-election win, our relationship is strained. It’s fitting that this episode starts with us arguing, but that isn’t important. What is important is that I won. Because…
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Go See Office Christmas Party and Remember Everything You Like About the Holidays
Nostalgia is a funny thing in the movies. When it’s done right, movies whisk us back to some bygone romanticized era where we could all laugh, party and relive simpler times—think Hot Tub Time Machine’s depiction of the ’80s. When movie nostalgia goes wrong, it’s a trip back to someone else’s fantasy past, when white…
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8 Gift Ideas for Guys Who Are Out There Hustling Like Earn on Atlanta
Everyone has a guy like Earn in their life. Earn is the struggling, college dropout-turned-music manager on Atlanta, the FX dramedy that was created by rapper and actor Donald Glover. Earn doesn’t have any money, barely has a job, doesn’t have a car or a place to live. Despite his sometimes unnerving circumstances—whether he’s your brother,…
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Lee Daniels Needs to Stop It With This White-Girl Lead in Star and His Magical Negro Speeches
Lee Daniels often espouses racial views typically heard only from characters in a Magical Negro movie. It’s one of those characteristics about the celebrated director that you like to forget in order to enjoy his art. Unfortunately, Daniels won’t cooperate with some of us in such an endeavor because he refuses to stop assuaging white…
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Empire Recap: Like Father, Like Son
Backstabbing, betrayal and terrorizing little girls: The latest episode of Empire, “The Unkindest Cut,” offered up good old-fashioned evil, delivered a lot of juicy moments and laid the groundwork for another family battle. Angelo is still trying to impress his mother, Diana Dubois, so he brings her further into Cookie’s world with a trip to…
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Black Superheroes Are Here to Save the Day
News flash: Being a black superhero is in. Whether that means being able to walk through a sea of bullets or being able to protect yourself with a 6-inch machete, black superheroes are here to stay. From the nearly all-black cast in Luke Cage to Danai Gurira’s kick-ass Michonne in this season of The Walking…
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#NoDAPL: Is It Time for Water Protectors to Leave Standing Rock?
After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Sunday that the Dakota Access Pipeline owners—Energy Transfer Partners, MarEn Bakken, Phillips 66 and Sunoco Logistics Partners—would not be granted easement to drill beneath Lake Oahe on the Missouri River, many water protectors at Standing Rock celebrated, but with the clear-eyed certainty that the fight is far from over.…
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7 Gift Ideas for Women Who Are Living Their Lives Like Olivia Pope
Does your sister (or aunt or best friend) have a demanding job, a troublesome personal life, needy friends and a flair for style? Well, she sounds a lot like Scandal protagonist Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington). She’s not in need of much (unless you have the perfect man available), so what do you give the sister…
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This Definitive History of Racist Ideas Should Be Required Reading
There are some books that just demand space on your bookshelf—not just because they’re interesting but also because these books break new ground in a way that will enrich your intellectual life. A new book on racism, Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, written by Ibram X. Kendi, Ph.D.,…