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  • Collecting Our History: How Black Memorabilia Shapes the Present Through the Past

    Images of African Americans, whether they are racist portraits of chocolate-skinned people with big red lips or positive images of iconic blacks such as President Barack Obama and actress Cicely Tyson, have a lot to do with how people of color see themselves. Are they pretty and smart, or are they ugly and stupid? People…

    By

    Allison Keyes

    Published

  • Your Conditioning Has Been Conditioned: Why Sexual ‘Preference’ Is Political

    Though not straightforward, there is a connection between who we think is desirable and whose life has value within a white supremacist country like the United States. This question of value came to a head in the candidacy and unfortunate election of Donald Trump. What has become even truer now is that the status quo…

    By

    Preston Mitchum

    Published

  • Before Erykah Badu Hosted the Soul Train Awards Sunday, She Threw a Vegan Dinner: Explained

    Upon my receipt of an email containing an invitation to a soul vegan dinner hosted by Erykah Badu that required the donning of a kimono, an immediate response came to mind: Of course Badu wants me to eat vegan food dressed like Kinu from A Different World. Badu doesn’t strike me as a Popeye’s Tuesday two-piece-special…

    By

    Michael Arceneaux

    Published

  • Make Tenure Great Again: Saving Academic Freedom From Trump’s ‘Post-Truth’ Nation

    From refusing climate change to exaggerating voter fraud to promoting Birtherism, Donald Trump didn’t just put American electoral politics in peril by denying truth; he puts truth itself at greater risk as his power grows. And in this anti-intellectual and media-illiterate zeitgeist, when denying reality can get you elected president of the United States of America, maintaining the integrity…

    By

    Andre Perry

    Published

  • Unique Views, Episode 20: Jive Turkey, Featuring Pam Grier

    Are you like me? Have you ever wished that there was a bigger, blacker Netflix for all the blaxploitation movies of the past? Well, wait no more! Introducing Brown Sugar, the biggest, baddest, blackest mutha— Patti LaDanielle: Shut yo’ mouth! Just talking about Brown Sugar on Bounce TV. Seriously, the service is dope, free for the first…

    By

    Stephen A. Crockett Jr.

    Published

  • Netflix and LOLz: Michael Che’s Bringing the Laughs With Several Other Black Comics

    If you’ve seen Michael Che’s subtle and deadpan comedy as the co-host of Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update,” you’ll be surprised by his hilarious, take-no-prisoners style on controversial topics in his Netflix special, Michael Che Matters, which will premiere Friday on the streaming service. Netflix is leading the charge ahead of networks like Comedy Central by…

    By

    Ericka Blount Danois

    Published

  • Watch: The Root Staff Tries Healthy Holiday Hacks

    The Root staff is hacking the holidays, but in a great way. In honor of Thanksgiving, a day where we give thanks and stuff our faces (hopefully in that order), The Root staff decided to try some “healthy hacks” (read: healthful substitutes for Thanksgiving dinner). Khaleeqa Rouse of Paparoxi.com provided the grub: black-eyed peas, kale…

    By

    Felice León

    Published

  • Why Hollywood’s Portrayal of Black Women Is Problematic

    2016 started off great with lots of visible leading black women in television. In series including Empire, How to Get Away With Murder and Queen Sugar, black women continue to show that they can hold their own when it comes to leading a television series. But knowing that, I have to say something that I…

    By

    Jonathan P. Higgins, Ed.D.

    Published

  • A Blow-by-Blow Account of the Harris Family Thanksgiving

    After the popularity of black Twitter’s #ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies and our undercover report on the Harris family’s Fourth of July cookout, we decided to embed a reporter for an up close look at Thanksgiving with the Harris family*. 10 a.m.: I arrived early to check out the preparation for the meal. After staring at me through the screen…

    By

    Michael Harriot

    Published

  • It’s the Super Bowl of Holidays for Black Uncles, and 4 Other Reasons to Love Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Yes, you receive gifts during Christmas, and Easter was great because you got chocolate candy, but Thanksgiving? Nah, Thanksgiving has always been the gift that keeps on giving. Thanksgiving is the one place where family, particularly black families, come together to remind themselves about why they’re connected to…

    By

    Lawrence Ross

    Published