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In her new book, American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama, author Rachel L. Swarns unravels the fascinating story of the first lady’s multiracial ancestry. She puts together the pieces of Michelle Obama’s lineage by solving missing links and discovering surprising relatives, including the first lady’s white great-great-great-grandfather. Here are…

The Negro Motorist Green Book was a light at the end of the tunnel for black travelers during segregation in the U.S. The annual travel guide, which made its debut in 1936, highlighted restaurants, clubs, barbershops, hotels and other establishments that were inclusive to travelers. Even though many establishments have been shut down or foreclosed,…

Ambivalence toward Independence Day, which commemorates the 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence (espousing liberty and equality while most blacks were enslaved), is nothing new for African Americans. The matter of black patriotism has likewise been debated through the years — ranging from solemn, unquestioning reverence for the flag to an angry rejection of…

The 2012 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles brought out the cream of black entertainment and culture to celebrate the best in music, movies and TV. With the long-awaited return of ’90s soul sensation D’Angelo and a stirring tribute to Whitney Houston, it was a night of unforgettable performances and relentless glamour.…

Lauren is a former Deputy Editor of The Root. Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney, is slated to sing a much-anticipated tribute to her late daughter at the 2012 BET Awards on July 1. Memorial performances have become part and parcel of award shows these days. Here are 12 of the most memorable — from Chris…

During Black Music Month, The Root has looked back 15, 25, 35 and 45 years, commemorating black sonic achievement and recalling each era’s memorable musical moments. But now we’d like to give special attention to another pivotal point in music — the neo-soul movement of the ’90s and early 2000s. From soul-singing ladies Erykah Badu…

June is national LGBT Pride Month, so The Root is presenting 20 advocates, filmmakers, journalists, actors, authors, former athletes and straight allies who have helped break down barriers and change the landscape for today’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.  While actor, director and playwright Colman Domingo‘s dive into Hollywood may have been meager —…

Natalie Hopkinson is a Washington, D.C.-based author whose current projects deal with the arts, gender and public life. She is the author of Go-Go Live: The Musical Life and Death of a Chocolate City. Follow her on Twitter.  Go-go music is unique to D.C., but in my book Go-Go Live: The Musical Life and Death of a Chocolate…

On Father’s Day 2012 (June 17), dads, sons and other concerned citizens from across New York City marched silently to protest the city police department’s stop-and-frisk policy, which overwhelmingly targets African Americans and Latinos. Led by Al Sharpton, NAACP’s Benjamin Todd Jealous and NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman, plus Tracy Martin, Trayvon Martin’s father, the…

The late Rodney King became an international icon after Los Angeles police officers savagely beat him in 1991 with metal batons following a high-speed chase. It was all captured on video by a nearby resident, and the footage transfixed a nation when it was aired over the nightly news. Nearly 13 months later, on April…