culture
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A Dream Deferred? Will Prison Reform Be Prioritized if Hillary Clinton Is Elected?
What happens to lofty campaign promises after the candidate is no longer a front-runner? Do they dry up like a raisin in the sun? I imagine that the supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders who believe in his promises about prison reform have the same question. As former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to…
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Rest in Power, Afeni Shakur; ‘You Are Appreciated’
We are having what can be considered one of the blackest years on record. Larry Wilmore dropping the n-word at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is peak blackness no matter which side of the appropriate aisle you sit on. In fact, in any other year it would be the runaway winner, except, moments prior to…
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A Tech Entrepreneur Gets Inspiration From Afrofuturism
Emile Cambry is a social entrepreneur whose technology center, Chicago’s Blue 1647, teaches people living in underserved communities how to code, make apps and solve technical problems. Cambry’s been inspired by Afrofuturism and what it can do for the next generation of young entrepreneurs. In part 4 of The Root’s series on Afrofuturism, Cambry talks about the importance…
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Watch: Misty Copeland on Becoming the Firebird Barbie
Very seldom does one find a person as gracious and graceful as Misty Copeland. In June 2015, Copeland became the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history. She has amassed innumerable accolades and graced a slew of magazine covers, helped redefine the Under Armour brand, and has…
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Black and Brown Boys Don’t Need to Learn Grit; They Need Schools to Stop Being Racist
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. Everyone seems to think that a lack of soft skills is the reason students of color aren’t ready for college and careers. More schools and after-school programs…
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MayBeWell: Shining a Spotlight on Mental Health in the Black Community
I don’t know how to talk about mental health in a short, sweet and all-encompassing way. On the topic, my mind is a Powerball drawing of sorts. The first ball up is MarShawn McCarrel, the brilliant Black Lives Matter activist who tragically took his own life earlier this year. Then I think of the artist…
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What Black Man Would Put Himself Behind Bars at San Quentin? W. Kamau Bell
“I grew up in one of those households where every month was Black History Month,” W. Kamau Bell jokes. Bell, one of the few comedians tackling issues of race head-on, credits his heightened awareness to his highly conscious mother who grew up in Indiana in the worst of times. “She had just embedded this inside…
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Filmmaker’s Quirky Love Story Takes on Affairs of the Heart and Mind
Editor’s note: This short-film series is a collaboration between The Root and El Rey Network to support, elevate and promote African-American filmmakers via on-air, digital and editorial platforms. These talented filmmakers represent the front line in improving diversity of participation and cultural representation in entertainment. Both The Root and El Rey Network are honored to showcase their works and stories. Smith…
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Get Away to These 4 Luxurious Black-Owned Hotels and B&Bs
African Americans love to travel, and according to a research study, we spend nearly $50 billion a year on U.S. travel alone. During our explorations, however, we don’t always make it a priority to support black-owned hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. “Like any industry, we’re stronger when we operate together. But beyond the economic reasons, and the…