obituaries
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'He Was Spiritually Rooted': Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Remembers Chadwick Boseman in Poignant Op-Ed
The first time we interviewed legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter, it was in anticipation of the 2018 release of Black Panther, the Marvel blockbuster that brought her a long-deserved Academy Award and catapulted its lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, to international fame. It was the duo’s second consecutive film, having also worked together on 2017’s…
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Lucille Bridges, Mother of Civil Rights Icon Ruby, Dies at 86
Every day, like many American parents, Lucille Bridges walked her first-grader Ruby to school. But unlike other parents, she did so flanked by federal marshalls, as aggressive mobs of white people, vehemently opposed to racially integrated schools, hurled slurs at her and her daughter. On Tuesday, Ruby announced the death of her mother on her…
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‘Best of My Love’: Pamela Hutchinson of The Emotions Dies at 61
Even if you didn’t know Pamela Hutchinson by name, you knew her voice. The soul singer was part of the family trio The Emotions, which comprised of her and sisters Wanda and Sheila. Together, they sang the 1977 R&B soul classic “Best of My Love,” along with other hits. According to the band’s official Facebook…
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Rapper Fred the Godson Dead at 35 From COVID-19
Damn. After a brief, but fierce battle with COVID-19, Bronx rapper Fred the Godson has died. He was only 35. On April 6, he revealed he had been hospitalized and placed on a ventilator after contracting the coronavirus. In recent weeks, his publicist confirmed that he had been battling kidney failure and a fever as…
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Ain't No Sunshine: Bill Withers Dead at 81
This one hurts. Bill Withers, whose soul-stirring catalog provided the soundtrack to generations of black households, has died from heart complications. He was 81. In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed their grief at his loss. “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart-driven…
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Legendary Jazz Pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. Dead at 85
Ellis Marsalis Jr., legendary jazz musician, educator and patriarch of the Marsalis family, has died at the age of 85. After being admitted to the hospital over the weekend with symptoms of pneumonia, the New York Times reports that the cause of death was from complications associated with the coronavirus. On her Twitter account, New…
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COVID-19's Impact on the Black Community: Remembering Those Who Have Lost Their Lives [Updating]
The coronavirus has—and will continue to—affect people from all walks of life, at every age, background and socioeconomic status. As COVID-19 spreads across the country, we at The Root are committed to chronicling its impact on the black community. We will continue to write stories of noted individuals who’ve lost their lives to this deadly…
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Actress Josie Harris, Mother of Floyd Mayweather's Children, Dead at 40 Years Old
Josie Harris, who shares three children with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, was found dead Monday night at her Valencia, Calif., home. She was 40 years old. TMZ reports that Harris was found unresponsive in her car after authorities were called to her home at approximately 9:30 p.m. While the circumstances sound suspicious, authorities do not…
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Former NBA Commissioner David Stern Dies at 77
David Stern, who was notably the commissioner of the National Basketball League for over 30 years, has died at the age of 77. The New York Times reports that he was hospitalized earlier this month due to a brain hemorrhage and had to undergo emergency surgery. Stern was the fourth commissioner of the NBA, taking…