culture
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John Oliver Tackles the Importance of Black Hair on Last Week Tonight—And He Does a Surprisingly Decent Job
Whether it’s a debate about “good hair” versus “bad hair” or whether or not braids are an appropriate birthday hairstyle (yes, that happened), Black hair never ceases to be a wildly popular topic of conversation. While it’s often reserved for the members of the melanated community, on Sunday night’s episode of Last Week Tonight With…
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Washington Wizards Demand Justice, Accountability and Equality in Team Photo
In every American household, Black, white, or otherwise, picture day is kind of a big deal. It’s the perfect opportunity to not only drown your scalp in pink lotion and stunt in those Easter clothes that won’t fit this time next year, but to commemorate your accomplishments and perhaps make a statement about the values…
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American Beauties: Naomi Osaka and Amanda Gorman Confirmed as Co-Chairs of a Distinctly Diverse 2021 Met Gala
In years past, today, the first Monday in May would typically find our eyes trained on the steps of Manhattan’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, as we waited to see what incredible ensembles the celebrity set would be wearing at the annual Met Gala. Unfortunately, for the second May in a row, we’ll be waiting for…
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The Funk Boutique: We're Rooting for Everybody Black
“Zazie has such a power and presence about herself that is so undeniable.” Regardless of the project she’s pursuing, Zazie Beetz approaches it with a raw authenticity that you can feel through the screen. This month, Beetz is featured on the cover of Elle’s May issue and speaks on 2021 and its role as her…
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More for Her: Celebrate the Beauty of Motherhood With the Gift of Black-Owned Beauty
We know, we know—you’ll always love your mama….she’s your favorite girl (shoutout to The Intruders). But to quote another (world-famous) mama, what have you done for her lately? Mother’s Day is swiftly approaching (that’s May 9, if you’re nasty); if you believe your mother is the best to ever do the damned thing—and looks damned…
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It Has Been a Week, So Please Enjoy This Palate-Cleansing Homage to Black Excellence From Zendaya and Law Roach
Y’all, we have missed so much this past year—family reunions, brunches, concerts, the Met Gala, casual hookups (if you’re into that kinda thing—no judgments). I’ve now celebrated two birthdays in this damned panorama, so trust when I say I know of what I speak. As The Root’s resident beauty and fashion editor (among other roles),…
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The Glow Up 50: In Praise of the Glam Squad
In this most unconventional of awards seasons, we are proudly closing out our second annual celebration of Black creatives innovating the worlds of fashion, beauty and media, better known as The Glow Up 50. We’re uniquely proud of each of our honorees this year (and hope you’ve taken a moment to applaud all of them…
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The Glow Up 50: For the Love of Dap
It’s no small thing to have an award named in your honor, but the designer known as Dapper Dan is no small entity—in fact, he’s larger than life. The journalist turned self-taught couturier born Daniel Day is the epitome of a renaissance man, staging his own reinvention more than once in his 76 years on…
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I Hope You Already Got That Pair of Kobe's That You Wanted Because If Not, You're About to Pay Stupid Prices For Them
On December 24, 2020, Nike (and I presume the Kobe Bryant estate, headed up by his wife Vanessa Bryant) decided to re-release the Nike Kobe Zoom 6 Protro in the green apple/black/volt-crimson colorway. The shoes, affectionately referred to as the “Kobe Grinches” (because of their super green color and the additional red laces that come…
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The Glow Up 50: The Dap Award
She’s a maestro. She’s a maven. She’s a mutha. For the legions of who worship at the gilded and glittered altar of Pat McGrath, she is indeed the mother of makeup. Already widely recognized as “the most influential makeup artist in the world,” as 2021 began, McGrath’s boundless creativity, coupled with the success of her…