culture
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On Black Panther, Black Leopard and the Politics of Being a Black Superhero
In approximately three weeks, on Feb. 16, the biggest and blackest movie extravaganza that we have seen since the turn of ’00 will finally be hitting theaters. It’s funny, really. The premiere of Black Panther is so close and yet so far away. But that’s not stopping all of the buzz that’s abounding. Everywhere you…
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#POTUSRAP: White Twitter Dissing Jay-Z Might Just Be the Greatest Thing Wypipo Have Ever Done
Whenever I’m feeling down and out, I have discovered a cure for depression that doesn’t involve narcotics, thousands of dollars in therapist fees or finding a USB outlet to recharge my sex robot. (No, I don’t have a sex robot. I’m still waiting for Apple to come out with one because I might be desperate,…
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From the Roots to Chris Rock: How Tina Farris Launched a Successful Tour-Management Company—and Now Wants to Empower Women
It was a cold morning in Washington, D.C. Before Tina Farris landed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, she texted me that she had left her scarf in Los Angeles, which she wouldn’t need after leaving D.C., so I offered to bring her mine, as we planned for me to shadow her for the day.…
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How I Barely Survived #GrammyWeek
It’s Grammy Week here in New York City. I’ve RSVP’d for and attended about six events. Once the Grammys are over, I will be taking a nap until further notice. This girl is exhausted. The Grammy Awards have returned to the Big Apple for the first time since 2003, and as a New Yorker (by…
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Black to the Future: What The Root Will Be Writing About in 2028
Happy birthday to us! On Jan. 28, 2008, The Root came into the world just as a young, black senator from Chicago was making his way to the White House, spreading a message of hope and change for America. In a changing media landscape, The Root emerged as a platform for the new voices of…
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#OscarsSoBlackAndWhite and the Myth of Black Privilege
It’s become an annual late-January Twitter tradition to examine, cheer and/or mock the diversity (or lack thereof) of the Oscar nominees ever since writer, activist and media critic April Reign started the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in 2015. But as the derivative hashtag #OscarsSoBlackAndWhite rears its ugly head once again this year, it’s worth revisiting a countertradition:…
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Essence Held a Supa Dupa Fly Night Honoring the Icon Missy Elliott
2018 has been deemed the year of the black woman, and Essence kicked off Grammy weekend by honoring four-time Grammy winner Missy Elliott at its 9th Annual Black Women in Music event in New York City on Thursday night. From the start of her career, Missy hit the scene hard, and her style and talent…
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Would You Be Here for a Martin Reboot?
Admittedly, I’m an avowed ’90s stan. Most of my favorite musical projects came out in the ’90s. My favorite television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is a time capsule of ’90s music, fashion and culture. My favorite black movies are mostly from the ’90s. I even throw a monthly dance party in Washington, D.C.,…
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Omari Hardwick, Meagan Good Shine in the Promising Yet Flawed Sundance Film A Boy. A Girl. A Dream
There’s a particular scene in A Boy. A Girl. A Dream., directed by Qasim Basir (who also directed Mooz-lum), where Cass (Omari Hardwick) has an all-too-familiar run-in with the police. Without going into too much detail, the interaction leaves Cass broken, with only Frida (Meagan Good) there to pick up the pieces. In a film…
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Tracing Your Roots: Did Grandma Have Creek Indian Roots?
An ancestor identified as black reportedly spoke a language of the Creek people. The family’s paper trail reflects the complicated history of the American West. Dear Professor Gates: I am seeking more information about my paternal grandmother Matilda Jane Tillman and her origins. Matilda Jane (or Tilly) was born on Dec. 26, 1895, in Marlton…