independence day
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Will Smith Admits to Taking This Surprising, Drastic Step to Become Famous Decades Ago
If it wasn't for this one decision, Smith might've never become the mega TV and film star he is today.
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Vivica A. Fox Is Turning 60 and We’re Celebrating With Her Top 5 Highest Grossing Movies
The leading lady has starred in some of our favorite blockbusters and we’re wishing her a happy birthday by showcasing her most successful films.
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Big Willy Weekend: Will Smith Pays for Entire 4th of July Fireworks Celebration in New Orleans
The 'Bad Boys for Life' star is currently in NOLA filming a new movie after previously pulling production out of Georgia.
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Make Juneteenth Great Again: The Caucasians' Guide to Celebrating Juneteenth
Now that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, we created a CRT-free educational curriculum to help colonizer Americans resist the urge to gentrify this celebration.
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Sorry, White America, But All Holidays Matter
Today is July 4th, a.k.a Independence Day, a.k.a ID4, according to the seminal 1996 film. A day commemorating when some white dudes won their valiant fight to stop paying taxes to some other group of white dudes. For over 240 years, America has taken to grand fireworks displays, cookouts and a solid run of Will…
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The Root Jams Weekly (7/3/2020): 'Road Trippin''
Under normal circumstances, in a world where ‘Rona wasn’t prompt and present and folks weren’t idiots, many (if not most) of us would be heading out of town or to beaches. As a kid, road trips were my favorite thing to do. This July 4th, we’re celebrating with a playlist for the road we’d travel…
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We Said What We Said: 10 Things The Root Wrote About America
In the 10-plus years since The Root was founded, our writers have always celebrated the Fourth of July with the knowledge that America’s original Independence Day celebration only applied to white men. Since then, this land of freedom and opportunity has graciously allowed its black citizens incremental but not-quite-full access to liberty and justice through…
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Overcompensator-in-Chief Takes Mulligan on Military Parade
Remember 2017? Remember when we were all wondering what the fuck covfefe meant while wondering what our white coworkers were going to do with all those vagina hats? Well, Donald Trump remembers the good old bad old days. So fondly, in fact, he’s resurrected an old hit. After losing his first bid for an Independence…
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I’m Just Here for the Ribs
I love any excuse for a cookout. My father is from Texas, lives in St. Louis (two places famous for ribs), and was raised on barbecue. He probably has St. Louis’ own Maull’s BBQ sauce in his veins instead of blood. During the spring and summer, he typically hauls out the grill for a series…
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The 6 Times This Year the US Gave African Americans Reasons Not to Celebrate Independence Day
The U.S. loves its holidays—from the patriotic red, white and blue Fourth to the fake ones (hint, hint: Columbus Day). Given this, it’s only fitting that black Americans acknowledge how “good ol’ America” has treated us so far this year. Let’s take a moment to commemorate and raise a glass to celebrate our status as…