culture
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Empire Recap: Hakeem, No Lyon
This episode of Empire, “My Bad Parts,” was silly and soapy. Thank God! The Lyons behaved like the fun season 1 family: dysfunctional but in a charming way. Lucious and his interminable Gutter Life storyline were not the focus. Lucious works better as part of the ensemble. Taraji P. Henson got to show off her…
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People Say My Daughter Is ‘Too Grown.’ I Think That Idea Is Detrimental to Black Girls—and Boys
“Are those your earrings Emmy is wearing?” I ran into a neighbor recently while running errands with my daughter Emmy. As we were chatting, she did a double take at Emmy’s medium-sized hoop earrings. “No,” I said, steeling myself for yet another scolding about my parenting choices. “Those are Emmy’s earrings.” “Oh, she’s grown,” my…
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Creed: The Son of Rocky’s Nemesis Hits the Screen
Fruitvale Station, the painful glimpse into the life of Oscar Grant, who was killed in 2009 by a transit cop in the Bay Area, put both director-writer Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan on the Hollywood fast track. Already a Sundance darling, Fruitvale Station got even more attention because its theatrical release in 2013…
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Capturing the Vibrancy of Gullah and Geechee Culture
It is often said that great art is the result of suffering, but Leroy Campbell’s stellar work comes from striving. He has overcome disabilities, family drama and doubt to create a magnificent portfolio of work. His paintings are owned by the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Joyner, Terry McMillan and the estate of Maya…
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Five Do's and Don'ts for Beginning Investors
So many choices, so much to understand. For the beginning investor, determining how to get started and what to do may seem overwhelming. But relax, take a deep breath, and start at the beginning. Here are five ideas that should help: 1. Identify your goals: Create a list of what you want to accomplish, such…
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Is It OK to Travel Without My Husband?
Have you ever written about doing separate vacations when you’re married? I think it would be an interesting topic. —Anonymous Occasionally readers write in, asking me to tackle subjects that may not apply to their current lives, but they’re curious to hear my thoughts about anyway. This question is not as random as it sounds.…
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Being Mary Jane Recap: Selling Out
Black-girl realness and Latina-girl truth telling were on full display. Girls’ night out at M.J.’s members-only club is rife with girl talk about the imagined size of President Obama’s you-know-what, male stalkers and prenups—or “legislating love,” as M.J. calls it. After her girls leave, M.J. dashes back in to get some lip-lock action with her…
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That Moment We Realized That Coolio Was Serious About Those Braids
I have to admit, I rolled my eyes when I discovered that this week was the anniversary of Coolio’s sophomore album, Gangsta’s Paradise. Coolio? With the crazy braids? (Unlike most old-school trends, Coolio’s braids looked (almost) as ridiculous then as they do now). From what I could remember, Coolio was just that rapper with that…
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Should You Incorporate to Protect Your Money?
Harriette Cole is the author of the book of meditations 108 Stitches: Words We Live By and a contributing editor at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.
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A NY State of Mind
If I had moved to New York City last fall as intended, you would surely be referring to me in the past tense today. I wasn’t ready—mentally, financially or emotionally—to give up my chill yet scatterbrained and spiraling life in Panama to write and power-walk for a living in the City That Never Covers Its…