28 Days of Literary Blackness with VSB | Day 28: What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker by Damon Young
Publisher Synopsis: From the cofounder of VerySmartBrothas.com, and one of the most read writers on race and culture at…
Terence Nance and Damon Young on Random Acts of Flyness, Intentional Acts of Blackness, and the Beauty of Lotion
Four things you don’t really need to know before watching this (but I’m going to tell you anyway)
What It Looks Like When the Whole Team's Winning
A few years back, one of my best friends had the opportunity to go back to his home church in D.C. and give a speech…
The Root Packs the House for Very Smart Brothas' and The Glow Up's Boss Moves Event in Washington, D.C.
Do people still call Washington, D.C., Chocolate City? I’m asking for a friend and also because my people, my people,…
10 Personal Reflections a Year After Becoming Part of The Root
What a difference a year makes. Just a little over a year ago, Damon and I signed those final signatures to complete…
Watch: Ever Wonder What Was in a Hotep Starter Kit?
The word “Hotep” has gained a lot of traction online in recent years. By definition, Hotep means peace—like a greeting. …
If You’re Reading This, Thank You for Everything (and Also for Reading This)
On a macro level and, I think, by most objective measures, 2017 was a fairly shitty year. I don’t have the time or…
It’s Funny How 1 Title Can Fuck Up the Game: Thoughts on the Response to Damon’s Piece About Black Men
1. I didn’t love the title, either. The substance of the piece itself was perfectly fine—to argue and debate that would…
Procter & Gamble Release an Ad About ‘the Talk,’ and White People Respond With the Wettest, Saltiest, Stupidest White Tears Ever
The talk is literally a talk many black parents have with their children to inform them of the dangers of “existing…
The Root Is Gaining 2 Very Smart Brothas
True story: I’ve known the founders of VSB, aka the blog Very Smart Brothas, for a minute. They are my friends, fellow…
Watch: A ‘Very Smart Brotha’ Breaks Down Darth Becky and Being the Blackest Thing on the Internet Since Marvin Gaye’s ‘Thigh Meats’
The Washington Post once described Very Smart Brothas as “the blackest thing that ever happened to the internet.…
2016 Sucked For A Lot Of People. Damon Young Is Not One Of Them.
By most accounts, 2016 was balls. So many of our favorite celebrities bought the farm. Trump was elected. It was so bad…
Watch: Melanin on Fleek at The Root 100
OK, so I'll admit that maybe "on fleek" is over, but it just felt right describing a celebration of melanin in the room…
Damon, VSB Profiled In Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A profile of Damon ("Blogger left basketball behind to chronicle black experience in Pittsburgh") ran in today's…