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Kerry Washington recently achieved a milestone that few black actors and actresses have when she landed the cover of Vanity Fair’s August issue. In it she opens up about her role in the phenomenon that is Scandal, which is only the second network drama to feature a black woman as the lead. But other black…

Keli Goff is The Root’s special correspondent. Follow her on Twitter.  Kerry Washington recently achieved a milestone that few black actors and actresses have when she landed the cover of Vanity Fair’s August issue. In it she opens up about her role in the phenomenon that is Scandal, which is only the second network drama to…

In the early days of the Zimmerman trial, several analysts remarked that there was an intentional effort to keep conversations about race off the table in the courtroom. And indeed, the race and ethnicity of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman were never overtly mentioned in the court proceedings. But anyone who’s been following the details…

In the early days of the Zimmerman trial, several analysts remarked that there was an intentional effort to keep conversations about race off the table in the courtroom. And indeed, the race and ethnicity of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman were never overtly mentioned in the court proceedings. But anyone who’s been following the details…

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Shelby County v. Holder, which overturned a key prevision of the Voting Rights Act, rattled civil rights proponents who see it as a major setback in the quest for racial equality and justice. The role of the court’s lone African-American justice, Clarence Thomas, who sided with the court’s majority…

Music has the power to move us, heal us and inspire us. Here’s a list of 20 socially conscious songs, along with their performers, that address everything from civil rights to gang violence to safe sex. With roots based in African-American hymns, Jackson’s 1964 performance of “We Shall Overcome” helped make the tune one of…

Music has the power to move us, heal us and inspire us. Here’s a list of 20 socially conscious songs, along with their performers, that address everything from civil rights to gang violence to safe sex. With roots based in African-American hymns, Jackson’s 1964 performance of “We Shall Overcome” helped make the tune one of…

It’s been 25 years since one of your favorite black movies — as evidenced by our Black Movie Madness bracket — was released. Yes, Coming to America, featuring four versions of Eddie Murphy and several Arsenio Halls, hits the quarter-century mark on June 29. Take a look at what some of the cast has been…

It’s been 25 years since one of your favorite black movies — as evidenced by our Black Movie Madness bracket — was released. Yes, Coming to America, featuring four versions of Eddie Murphy and several Arsenio Halls, hits the quarter-century mark on June 29. Take a look at what some of the cast has been…