Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude

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Twitter Stole From Me and They Can Steal From You, Too

The morning of March 2, the powers that be at Twitter robbed me of my intellectual property and community with little explanation and no avenue for redress. It started with a diss. I don’t remember the topic that brought me the misfortune of having dog whistle racism in my Twitter mentions, but I do remember…

By

Genie Lauren

Published

March 6, 2018
Culture

Judge of Characters: George Washington Took Teeth From the Mouths of Slaves

I’ve always been taught that the first president of the United States of America had wooden teeth because his gums were not fertile ground for strong, pearly whites. It was just common knowledge. But recently, writer Michael Coard revealed something that’s widely unknown: Washington’s dentures were made not of wood but of elephant/walrus tusks and,…

By

Danielle Young

Published

March 2, 2018
Trump Called Out Attorney General Jeff Sessions Because He Doesn’t Understand How This Works

The president is proof that a subhuman nonthinking white man can one day become the leader of the free world. Asparagus should feel inspired. Sure, it is nonverbal, and yes, it is merely a vegetable, but other than color, what’s the difference between asparagus and the president? Seriously, they both know about the same when…

By

Stephen A. Crockett Jr.

Published

February 28, 2018
Caption This: Win Tickets to See Anita Baker, Chaka Khan at 2018 Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival

If I told you The Root was giving away tickets to see Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Smokey Robinson, Fantasia and others on March 17 and 18 in Miami, what would you say? Hold that thought—save your creative juices. As an official media sponsor for the 2018 Jazz in the Gardens music festival,…

By

Aarick Knighton

Published

February 20, 2018
Entertainment

The Discouraging Response to Blac Chyna’s Leaked Sex Tape

Another leaked sex tape of Blac Chyna has her lawyers and her ex-boyfriend Mechie, who appears in the tape, looking to prosecute the person who shared it. The NSFW video was leaked via social media and became a trending topic on Monday. It shows model and former dancer Blac Chyna giving head to Mechie, her…

By

Anne Branigin

Published

February 20, 2018
Very Smart Brothas

Donald Trump Calls Oprah ‘Insecure,’ Challenges Her to Run for President, Has Obviously Lost His Damn Mind

So, Oprah Winfrey is (probably) not running for president. We have to make that clear. She is (more than likely) not running! Of course, she can if she wants to. Because she’s Oprah, and if Oprah says, “Hey, y’all. I want to do this thing,” you don’t say, “No, Oprah, you cannot do this thing…

By

Damon Young

Published

February 19, 2018
Melania Trump Is Trolling Donald on Twitter and It’s Awesome

I am not one of those people who feel sorry for Melania Trump. She knew who she was dealing with when she decided to marry the walking embodiment of a clogged artery. But I am one of those people who take delight in watching this marriage crumble. She clearly hates this man, and watching them…

By

Stephen A. Crockett Jr.

Published

February 8, 2018
How to Get Away With Harassment on Twitter

I’ve utilized social media for over 25 years, way before it was referred to as “social media.” From AOL chatrooms to IRC (internet relay chat), I’ve seen the internet evolve over a quarter of a century. But much hasn’t changed in terms of its being a fount of knowledge, as well as a cesspool of…

By

Yesha Callahan

Published

February 7, 2018
Entertainment

#BlackMenSmiling Is the Most Beautiful Thing on Twitter Right Now—and It’s Trending Worldwide

This is what you need to get your Friday evening started on the right note: beautiful images of black men, their faces glowing, their teeth gleaming, happiness pouring from their very beings. #BlackMenSmiling is trending at No. 1 on Twitter right now, and it is the best thing ever. We are inundated every single day…

By

Monique Judge

Published

February 2, 2018
Toni Braxton Has Blocked Me on Twitter and I Have Questions

In September I was alerted to a new Toni Braxton single, entitled “Deadwood,” by a friend who has long known my affinity for all things Toni Braxton. I heard the song and, unsurprisingly, loved it. So being the longtime fan that I am, I promptly went to Twitter in order to spread the gospel. That’s…

By

Michael Arceneaux

Published

February 2, 2018