The Internet Responds To Steven Tyler’s Supposed Black Heritage, Inside NBA’s Jimmy Butler’s Cali Mansion, Kerry Washington Backs X Alternative, Black Folks Respond To Problematic Ketchup Ad And More

The Root’s most talked about culture stories from the week.

Wait…Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler is Black?? Black Internet Hilariously and Lovingly Responds

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 4: Steven Tyler attends the 5th Annual Jam For Janie GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party at Hollywood Palladium on February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Elyse Jankowski

Fans of the hit PBS series “Finding Your Roots” have seen the shocking episodes in which a little digging revealed that some white stars — including Carly Simon and Joe Manganiello — have African ancestry. – Angela Johnson Read More

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HBCU Endowments vs. Harvard’s $53.2 billion

Look Inside NBA’s Jimmy Butler’s California Mansion

Jimmy Butler for Architectural Digest Photo: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Jenna Peffley’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}]

You have to give it up to Architectural Digest for constantly finding the most creative and jaw-dropping Black celebrity homes and allowing us to live vicariously through them. Recently, Jimmy Butler granted Architectural Digest an inside scoop into his California mansion, and boy is it nothing like you’d expect! – Phenix S Halley Read More

Kerry Washington Throws Her Support Behind Black-Owned Alternative to MAGA Elon Musk’s Twitter/X

Photo: Getty Images

One of the most disturbing things about billionaire tech leader Elon Musk’s insistence on backing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is that he’s the CEO of X, the massive social media platform which reported more than 170 million daily active users worldwide on its mobile app in February 2024. – Angela Johnson Read More

Black Internet Says 2 Ketchup Ads Perpetuate Stereotypes, But Are They Tripping Or Right?

Photo: Getty Images Stefani Reynolds

In the middle of October, which is ironically the U.K.’s Black History Month, Heinz released a series of public ad posters promoting family sized pasta sauce. The ads depict a wedding reception where the Black bride sits in the middle of the table completely overjoyed while eating pasta. To her right sit her white groom’s mother and father. On the left, the groom and what looks like the bride’s Black mother appear. – Phenix S Halley Read More

Black Celebs Who Remade Themselves White Famous

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Kravitz; Karwai Tang; Dave Benett

It’s never too late to change up the game! We all grow and evolve with time, so hats off to many of our favorite celebrities who aren’t afraid of change and simply do what they want to do. When it comes to rebranding yourself, there’s no one particular formula…but these celebrities truly are the blueprint. – Phenix S Halley Read More

Best Moments From the First And Most Watched HBCU Homecoming Football Game So Far

Photo: Getty Images Juan Moore

It’s officially October which means pumpkin spice, fall leaves, and most importantly: HBCU Homecoming season! Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) always put on a show for homecoming, but this year’s football season is already tuning up to be one for the history books. – Phenix S Halley Read More

Why Some Black Folks Won’t Evacuate for Bad Weather Until Waffle House Closes. If You Know, You Know

Photo: Getty Images Jeffrey Greenberg

You might be wondering why were so many of your Black friends and relatives in Florida unfazed by the potential deadly wave of Hurricane Milton. Could it be they were waiting for Waffle House to make a statement? – Phenix S Halley Read More

Obama Said What Black People Have Been Thinking: Sexism Is Why Black Men Are Soft On Kamala

Photo: Getty Images Arturo Holmes/

Only Barack Obama could say what he said and not be waking up today to an online dragging. Only Obama could call BS on some Black men refusing to back Vice President Kamala Harris for reasons that aren’t rooted in sexism. – Wayne Washington Read More

Basketball Twitter Is Already Tired of LeBron and Bronny James Making History

Photo: Getty Images Katelyn Mulcahy

NBA superstar LeBron James has been very open about his desire to play professionally with his son Lebron “Bronny” James, Jr. As Bronny advanced through high school and college, that dream became more of a reality. However, that meant fans and trolls put a laser focus on the young player’s game, nitpicking every shot and pass, while also calling him a “nepo baby” who’s only made it this far because of his name. – Stephanie Holland Read More

This Mostly Black Portland High School Football Team Has Been Taunted With Racism During Away Games All Season

Photo: Dan Brood/Sports Illustrated

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) is looking into allegations that athletes from a primarily Black high school in Southeast Portland have been repeatedly subjected to racial slurs. – Candace McDuffie Read More

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