culture
-
10 Signs You Might Be Bougie
We’ve seen them on TV—from Whitley Gilbert on A Different World to Olivia Pope in Scandal: bougie black folk. Some wear their bougie with pride, like a scout badge, while others fight it ferociously, as if you had just called them a racist cop. You (or someone you know) may be bougie: full, half or…
-
Who Gets to Be Black?
I don’t have to do nothing but eat, drink, stay black, and die. Langston Hughes initially penned the phrase, while Morgan Freeman’s Joe Clark famously paraphrased it in Lean on Me. Purportedly, Billie Holiday even uttered it during her first encounter with Maya Angelou. And while I might add “and pay taxes” (because the IRS…
-
Unique Views Podcast, Episode 14: Social Media Suicide: It’s Just Podcast Talk
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Seriously, it wasn’t supposed to be just Danielle Young—aka Patti LaDanielle, aka The Root’s social-content producer—and me, Stephen “Gladiator” Crockett Jr. (I’m trying on nicknames, so just go with it, guys.) On this episode, we had a superspecial guest all set up, and then the interview got embargoed…
-
Dear Lifetime, Don't Make a Beyoncé Biopic. Signed, Original Member of the Beyhive
When will everyone learn that when you go against Beyoncé’s wishes, only failure and fury will follow? There are rumors floating that Lifetime is considering making a film based on the life of the finest Creole to twerk the earth. A source tells the Daily Star, “Beyoncé is arguably the world’s biggest star and has…
-
The ‘We Love You’ Project Embraces Black Men
Frustrated by the recent deaths of black men at the hands of the police, Washington, D.C.-based photographer Bryon Summers felt the need to do something to change the image of black men. Admittedly, he’s not a marching kind of guy, but he absolutely believes in the power of protest and making himself “heard.” His personal…
-
GOP Candidate's Black Outreach: Kool-Aid, Watermelon and KFC
As many of us politicos have come to know, the Grand Old Party is overflowing with stupid white men. In this campaign season, though, Donald J. Trump has been sucking up so much of the election coverage, the rest of those of that dumb-dumb-diddy demo have been overlooked. That’s why I am so grateful to…
-
All Films Matter: The Birth of a Nation and the Vilification of Black Feminism
Before you read this, there are two things you should know: I paid to see The Birth of a Nation. I reviewed it. I liked it. I wish more people had seen it. I believe Nate Parker is a despicable human being. I don’t believe those two facts negate each other. Intelligent people understand that…
-
The 6 Best Clapbacks of This Week’s HTGAWM
Hit them and they’ll hit you back, literally and figuratively. Through pimp slaps, suspensions and black eyes, this was the week of stellar clapbacks, with nearly everyone slinging shade. This episode of How to Get Away With Murder begins with Annalise crying up snot in a jail cell. She is rocking and moaning like she missed…
-
On Justice Ginsburg's 'Arrogant' Opinion on National Anthem Protest
Updated Friday, Oct. 14, 4:50 p.m. EDT: Justice Ginsburg did not respond to The Root’s interview request to discuss her comments about Kaepernick and the national anthem protest, but she released the following statement: “Some of you have inquired about a book interview in which I was asked how I felt about Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players…
-
Empire Recap: That Moment When a Ghost Joins a Threesome
Empire’s Cookie Lyon is arguably the most colorful character on TV. In last night’s episode, “Cupid Kills,” Miss Cookie was the star of the episode. She was loud, uncouth and justifiably hostile—that’s the Cookie we all know and love. With the spotlight on Cookie, clearly defined story arcs and a deliciously ludicrous ending, Empire delivered…