culture
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From Relaxed to All Natural: Johnny Wright, the Man Behind Michelle Obama’s Hair
Michelle Obama with an Afro? Michelle Obama with an Afro! It could happen! And celebrity stylist Johnny Wright—the stylist to the first lady—is the man who would make that happen if it did. Wright, who says Michelle Obama has been completely natural for years now (he straightens her hair with a flat iron), says it is…
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7 Changes You Can Make Right Now to Get Fit for Summer
Spring may have taken its time this year, but I know what won’t be lagging behind: summer. That’s right; it’s just over 30 days away, and once those pool-party invites start rolling in, there’s no turning back. Point blank, you’re going to have to show some skin. So if you’re already fretting about this season…
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5 Useless Fees That are Wasting Your Money
Did you ever have to pay your bank a monthly maintenance fee because you let your checking account balance slip below a certain amount? The fee, which can run anywhere from $12-$15, might not seem so bad if it allows you to access all your money when you need it. What about that early termination…
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Good Night, David Letterman: 10 Memorable Appearances by Black Stars
David Letterman’s retirement from his long-running Late Show With David Letterman—which began on Feb. 1, 1982, as Late Night With David Letterman on NBC and later moved to CBS on Aug. 30, 1993, after NBC chose Jay Leno to succeed the legendary Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show—has rightfully prompted a lot of celebration. Back…
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My Baby Daddy Refuses to See His Child Unless We Sleep Together
Dear Demetria: I am currently single and dealing with the father of my daughter. We were never in a formal relationship, but he refuses to see our daughter unless there is sex involved. He also has other children, with multiple women, whom he sees and acknowledges. I don’t want anything to do with him, but…
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How Black-ish Went From WTF? to Must-See TV in 10 Easy Steps
As we prepare for the season 1 finale of ABC’s Black-ish, let’s take a look back at how Black-ish quickly became one of America’s favorite new sitcoms. 1. Remember when the Black-ish trailer first aired, promising the story of a well-to-do African-American father grappling with how to ensure that his family maintains a sense of cultural identity in the face…
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Calling All Men in Atlanta to Attend The Root’s manCODE Event
We’re calling on the men of the Atlanta metropolitan area to join The Root for an empowering evening of brotherhood, dialogue and learning. After a successful event in New York City, The Root’s annual manCODE series moves south to Atlanta with a dynamic men-only conversation on June 17. For those who are unfamiliar with manCODE,…
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What Every 30-Year-Old Should Know About 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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Happy X Day? The Case Against a Federal Holiday for Malcolm X
There has been no federal holiday designated to honor Malcolm X, and on Tuesday, on what would have been his 90th birthday—in the midst of the continued devaluation of black bodies and the dismissal of black truth—the question on some people’s minds is: Should there be? He was born May 19, 1925, as Malcolm Little…
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Is Being Mentally Ill in America a Crime?
In March, Dallas police were called to the house of a black family where a man, a member of the family, had a screwdriver. Police were told that the man was mentally ill, yet the police did not act in accordance with the established protocol of talking and calming. Instead they shot him dead. While…