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2010-present In his debut episode of SNL, Jared “Jay Pharoah” Farrow showed that he can nail the kind of celebrity impressions that are a staple of every cast member’s repertoire, including a credible sendup of box-office king Will Smith. Time will tell if the young comedian enjoys the kind of meteoric success had by Eddie…

When Obama stepped into office on Jan. 20, 2009, it had to be one of the most exciting moments of his life. And undoubtedly the most daunting. America was on the verge of economic collapse, involved in two wars and in the middle of a host of other urgent issues. Ninety-nine problems in his lap…

Thakoon is a hot new designer who has become a Michelle Obama favorite. On her first official European visit, she wore a Thakoon richly printed ensemble to a NATO meeting in 2009 with French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Captions by Harriette Cole Thakoon did not disappoint for Spring/Summer 2011. Dreamy ethereal…

Although her former boss, Anne Mulcahy, has been mentioned as a candidate, Burns should be considered for the position of chief economic adviser on her own record. Raised in New York by a single mother, Burns earned two degrees in engineering, then spent her entire career at Xerox. She played a key role in Mulcahy’s…

From left: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Suzanne Fuller (Global Novations), Patrice Webb (Heineken), Kheri Tillman (Heineken USA), Dolf van den Brink (CEO, Heineken USA) and Sylvia van den Brink. District of Columbia Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray, still celebrating his victory, poses at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation gala dinner with Cheryl Parker Rose, adviser to House…

The IMPACT Leadership Team: Joe Briggs, Angela Rye (a panelist at The Root’s Young, Fabulous and Female event), Semhar Araia (an honoree of 2009’s The Root 100), Adria Crutchfield, Ryan Scott and David Johns. Nicole Venable of the Bockorny Group and Joel Dreyfuss, managing editor of The Root. From left: Dr. Djinge Lindsay-Strickland, Edgar Burch…

Undercovers (NBC), Wednesdays, 8 p.m. EST Kodjoe plays CIA agent/catering entrepreneur Steven Bloom in this action-spy series. He started as a model, but many will remember him as heartthrob Damon Carter on Showtime’s Soul Food TV series. Since then, he’s had movie roles in Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), The Gospel (2005) and Brown Sugar (2002).…

is an intern at The Root and senior journalism major at Howard University. Tracy Reese enjoying herself backstage at her runway show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. One of the few prominent African-American designers showing this year, Reese unveiled her spring collection for 2011. Captions by Ann Espuelas Taking a break from designing…

Clyburn is often described as the most respected member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He is arguably the most powerful as well in his capacity as the House majority whip. Payne is the chair of the Annual Legislative Conference, which means he is largely responsible for orchestrating what everyone else knows as Black Caucus Weekend.…

In a recent trip to Egypt, Jonathan Pourzal volunteered with the South Asasif Conservation project. Take a look at a few photos of his experience and then read more about it as he excavates Egypt’s black history and chases the past in the land of the Kemites. The second ASA Restoration Project mission team of…