culture
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They’ve Done the Time but Are Still Paying for the Crime
Charles McKinney is a convicted felon, and he has horror stories to tell about his quest to find work once he got out of jail. “You drift from job to job so you don’t get the question asked, ‘Have you ever had a felony?’” McKinney says. “Once I came home … instead of being faced…
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Mavis Staples Tells Her Own Story in HBO Doc
Legendary singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples has been in the business of making music and changing lives for over 60 years. The Chicago-born singer with the signature raspy voice launched her career in 1950 as part of the family gospel group the Staple Singers, consisting of her father (Pops) and three older sisters…
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Hotep, Explained
What does “Hotep” mean? “Hotep” is an Egyptian word that means “at peace.” It’s basically the Egyptian “What’s good?” Over the past several decades, the word has also been utilized quite frequently by black Americans who happen to be more Afrocentric. Let me put it this way: If you happen to attend a Juneteenth festival…
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Stop Lying. If Donald Trump Wins the Presidency, You Aren’t Moving Anywhere
Here’s what will likely happen if Donald Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States of America: You may be shocked, you may be disgusted and you may think it’s about to be the worst four years of your life. I get it. The guy who hosted a show featuring NeNe Leakes, Brandi Glanville…
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When Will I Realize ‘2-Piece and a Biscuit’ Is Not My Friend?
On any given Sunday (or, really, any day that ends with “y”), I have the consumption habits of a 13-year-old boy. I’m talking gigantic, carb-heavy meals that prominently feature either rice, cassava or potatoes, and a big ole chunk of meat that I can consume with aplomb. I’m the queen of the Popeyes two-piece and…
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Watch: Michael Jackson Impersonator Does Spot-On Impression of Late Singer
Michael Jackson’s is one of the most distinct voices in all of music, so it is pretty impressive that this M.J. impersonator does a really nice job. See below:
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Join The Root in Celebrating #BlackHistoryForever
We’re getting rid of Black History Month. No, this is not us standing in solidarity with Stacey Dash. This is an extension of Black History Month. Black History Month is a glorious celebration of our contributions to the world. But it’s only a month. There have been decades of complaints about black history being limited…
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An Open Letter to Melissa Harris-Perry From a Grateful Student
Dear Professor Harris-Perry: When the news broke that you would no longer be appearing on MSNBC, it signaled the end of a very important era for me. I was in graduate school at Princeton University when President Barack Obama was sworn into office as our first black president, a time when we could only speculate…
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Why Successful Black Men in Brazil Won’t Marry Black Women
In 1965, Ebony magazine published a 10-page spread about Brazil with the headline, “Does Amalgamation Work in Brazil: Absorbing Negro Through Interracial Marriage Is Their Answer to the Race Problem.” The top image in the article showed a black woman walking hand in hand down the street with a white man. “Interracial couple walking hand…
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How Ashley Hicks of Black Girls Run! Is Literally Running It
Calling all the ladies in the world who are owning their #BlackGirlMagic and winning in life. You’re running your career, your love life, managing family and friends; and anyone who knows you knows you’re absolutely a boss. However, while having it all and doing it all may be part of our #BlackGirlMagic DNA, if we…