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From the earliest days of his presidential campaign, Barack Obama has been smeared as a radical Muslim with terrorist leanings. Such attacks have taken their toll on his image and the truth, and now only a third of Republicans think that the president was born in the U.S., and a sharply increasing number of Americans…

It’s official. The holiday reception season has started in the nation’s capital. Politicos, local entrepreneurs, Hill staff and socialites will be all around town in the next three weeks participating in social-philanthropic events. Politicos, Capitol Hill staffers, journalists and White House appointees gathered at L2 Lounge in Georgetown to network and toast the holidays. Here,…

John Legend: “Did we intentionally save this announcement until William and Kate were married out of respect? #coalitionofthewilling” Roland Martin: “How stupid was Osama bin Laden to build a mansion 8 times larger than every other neighborhood crib & NOT think he would be found? Way to go!” Spike Lee: “President Barack Obama DID DA…

He traveled thousands of miles from Zamunda to find his queen in Queens. But when Lisa McDowell finds out that Prince Akeem isn’t the goat herder she imagined, it seems she won’t forgive him. Lucky for him, she comes around in time for their royal wedding. Captions by Erin E. Evans Our favorite college sweethearts…

Artist, writer and founder of Art in Social Structures “Senam is an international artist and theorist with Ghanaian and American roots and is exemplary of the post-independence generation of politically and culturally savvy intellectuals and artists. We met in 2005 and her friendship has not only influenced my work (she was a contributing writer to…

This Baltimore hip-hop, soul and spoken word duo is comprised of David Ross (Native Son) and Femi Lawal (The Dri Fish). Although the two perform independently, it is their collective energy that has earned them national tours, museum commissions and appearances alongside Saul Williams, KRS-One, Bill Cosby and more. In this performance on BET’s “Lyric…

June 27, 1872-Feb. 9, 1906 “We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, — This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties.” Excerpted from “We Wear the Mask” Feb. 1, 1902-May 22, 1967 “What happens to…

Civil War re-enactor Malcolm Beech poses with an Abe Lincoln impersonator. Photos courtesy of Malcolm Beech. Captions by The Root’s editorial staff. Bernard George, Malcolm Beech and Harvey Gooding. These re-enactors bear the colors of a unit from the U.S. Colored Troops (yes, that’s what they were called). The U.S. Colored Troops had men on horseback…

Entrepreneur Barry Jones and CAbi fashion consultant Keli Jones attend the gala for the 60th anniversary of the Atlanta chapter of Jack and Jill. All photographs by Kimberly O’Hara Evans From left: Dan Gardner, Wilmington Trust; Lovette Russell, member of the Atlanta chapter; and Lowell Lea, chef. Donna Lowry Reid — a member of the…