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Although classically trained at Juilliard, Hall sometimes had to pass for Asian to get jobs on Broadway. Her most famous role was Bloody Mary, the island woman who trades with the American sailors in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. It earned her the first Tony awarded to an African American. Hall eventually played the part…

The Root hosted a panel in Washington, D.C., on June 6 to discuss the generational attitude differences among blacks that are detailed in Ellis Cose’s new book, The End of Anger. From right: The night’s panelists — political analyst Jamal Simmons, Erica L. Williams (Citizen Engagement Laboratory), Cheryl Contee (Jack & Jill Politics) and political…

The world was introduced to the music of 19-year-old Prince Rogers Nelson with the April 1978 release of his debut album, For You. Playing more than 20 instruments on the record, Prince brought together disco, pop, funk and R&B rhythms on songs like “Soft and Wet,” “Just as Long as We’re Together” and “Crazy You.”…

“I have to admit, I’ve always been curious about Caucasian women … That doesn’t mean to say that because a brother is with a white girl that he’s less progressive. I’m still very pro-black,” said Flipper Purify, Snipes’ character in Jungle Fever. He was happily married, with a beautiful child and a good career. But…

Lauren is a former Deputy Editor of The Root. In response to actor Morgan Freeman’s allegations of racism within the Tea Party, Herman Cain explained, during a September 2011 appearance on Fox News, that you really can’t get a true sense of the group’s agenda without meeting up with them in person: “Well, first of…

Co-founder of the legendary hip-hop label Def Jam and the clothing line Phat Farm, and producer of many movies and TV series, Simmons is the archetypal multiformat black entertainment mogul. Since 2000 he’s also added “devout yogi” to his résumé. Simmons meditates each day and has a vigorous, 90-minute daily yoga regimen. His studies at…

The civics and service organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary in San Francisco, June 9-12. The convention will feature notable guests Star Jones, Terry McMillan, Ledisi Young, Spinderella and more. Captions by Joshua R. Weaver Members of the 105-year-old Alpha Phi Alpha, the country’s first African-American intercollegiate fraternity, will convene in Chicago, June 22-25. Alpha…

Nelson Mandela’s legendary fight against South Africa’s apartheid began in his early 30s, around 1950 — two years after the legal mandate for segregation was implemented. Mandela, a young attorney, joined forces with Oliver Tambo in 1953 to create the country’s first all-black law firm, Mandela and Tambo, which represented blacks who were charged with…

The center of black life in Tulsa in the early 1900s, Greenwood Avenue was dubbed the Black Wall Street. Captions by Gary Lee Present-day Greenwood Avenue, Tulsa. Thriving black-owned businesses lined the streets in the 1910s. After three days of rioting in late May and early June 1921, black Tulsa was in ruins. With approximately…