culture
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Watch: Music Prodigy Jon Batiste Serves Food for Thought
Jon Batiste is something of a musical prodigy. He first performed with his family’s band when he was 8 years old, and nearly a decade later he would go on to self-release his first album, Times in New Orleans. “There was a spiritual connection to the instrument,” Batiste told The Root. Batiste attended the prestigious conservatory Juilliard…
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#WhitePrivilegeMuch: College Rapist Gets Light Sentence Because Prison Would Be Bad for Him
There is nothing scarier than a white man losing his power. Good thing Brock Turner won’t have to face the full weight of what that really means. If you haven’t already heard, Turner is the young white ex-Stanford University swimmer whose dreams are more precious than the woman he raped. On Jan. 17, 2015, Turner…
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These 2 Long-Lost Sisters Make Their Own Wine. Care for a Sip?
Americans have been carrying on a torrid love affair with wine for some time; we’ve ridden the wine train so long that we now sip more wine than the French. Vino’s popularity is everywhere these days, from moscato-splashed brunches to malbec-sipping book clubs. In fact, wine consumption in the U.S. has continued to rise every…
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Why More Black Male Teachers Should be Feminists
Editor’s note: Once a month, this column will tackle broader questions about what the country should do about gaps in achievement and opportunity, especially for boys of color. I recently attended an all-black, all-male meeting focused on increasing the number of black men in teaching. It’s an accomplishment and a novelty to see a group…
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Dear White People, Muhammad Ali Didn’t ‘Transcend Race’
When famous African-American celebrities die, you can bet your bottom dollar that if white folks liked them, the word “transcend” is going to pop up in their obits like lies in a Donald Trump speech. For white America, “transcend” is that gold stamp of approval, much more elevated and polite than the old word “credit”—as…
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Letting It Burn, and 9 Other Lessons Learned From Reading Terry McMillan
To say that the 1992 debut of Waiting to Exhale, Terry McMillan’s first best-seller, was a watershed moment in contemporary American fiction would be an understatement. For legions of black women, seeing characters like themselves placed front and center was a revolution unto itself. McMillan was 40 years old at the time, and like her…
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15 New Books by Black Authors to Dive Into This Summer
Summer is just around the corner—and with it comes some time for a restful vacation. Whether you’re stuck on a crowded flight or relaxing on the beach, here are some stellar books published by black authors during the first half of 2016—just in time to take along with you for some exhilarating summer reading. Hope…
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Prince Stopped Cursing in His Music Because of Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali, who died Friday, was one of the most inspirational figures in the world, both inside and out of the boxing ring. His words and deeds were a call to action for many, but it was the words he didn’t use that led Prince to stop cursing in his music. The artist known for some of…
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Obama on Ali: He ‘Shook Up the World. And the World Is Better for It’
On Saturday, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama shared their thoughts on the death of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Here is their full statement. Statement from President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on the Passing of Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. Period. If you just asked him, he’d tell you. He’d tell…
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A Silenced Ali Was a Likable Ali for White People
“I am the greatest.” There will be thousands of well-deserved tributes to Muhammad Ali, and all will talk about his transformation from heavyweight boxing champion to international humanitarian. And that is important to note. But the thing most will miss is how Ali’s voice—a bold black and Muslim voice that spoke eloquently for the aspirations…