The Real Background Of The Alleged New Orleans Killer, A Group of New Jersey Cops Sent N-Word-Filled Text Messages, Black New York Inmate Dies After Being Beaten By Corrections Officers, What Happened After North Carolina Woman Mistook Nail Glue For Eye Drops And More

The Root’s most powerful news stories from the last seven days.

Folks Are Calling the Alleged New Orleans Killer a ‘Terrorist,’ But His Background Will Surprise You

Screenshot: FBI

On New Year’s Day, 15 people were killed and 30 were injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd celebrating 2025 in the French Quarter. The cops have their suspect who has since been described as a “terrorist.” However, his profile describes him as quite the opposite. – Kalyn Womack Read More

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
AI Is the New Civil Rights Frontier: Loren Douglass on Wealth, Politics & Power

A Whole Group of New Jersey Cops Sent Racist, N-Word-Filled Text Messages. Their Consequences are Infuriating.

Photo: Monmouth County

An officer in Monmouth County, N.J. has been fired after it was revealed he sent racist slurs in text messages to other police officers. The group wasn’t being investigated for racist behavior. The texts surprisingly came to light after a police-involved crash crash exposed cell phone data. – Candace McDuffie Read More

A Black New York Inmate Dies After Being Beaten By Corrections Officers in What Politician Calls a ‘Modern Day Lynching’

Photo: Office of the New York State Attorney General

Just weeks before Christmas, a Black inmate at a New York prison was allegedly beaten to death by a group of correctional officers. The footage of the incident was so horrid, even the police union called it “incomprehensible.” – Kalyn Womack Read More

A North Carolina Woman Mistakes Nail Glue for Eye Drops and…Ouch!

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘TikTok’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}]

A medicine cabinet mixup just left a North Carolina woman hospitalized as doctors try to help her out of a painful situation.

The unidentified woman apparently mistook her nail glue for eye drops and accidentally glued her eyes shut.

In a post she captioned, “POV: your mom thought her nail glue was her eye drops,” Ria Faggart, the woman’s daughter, shared video footage of her mother lying in a hospital bed. The video shows the woman blinking but unable to open her eyes as the sticky substance apparently has them sealed shut. – Angela Johnson Read More

Black Twitter Reacts to President Jimmy Carter’s Death at 100

Photo: Getty Images David Hume Kennerly

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States of America and the longest-living American president, passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday.

Due to his age, it wasn’t necessarily a shock to many that Carter passed. But his death did garner some unique reactions from Black Twitter as users remembered one of the country’s most respected political figures. – Noah A. McGee Read More

Students Allegedly Asked This Black Utah Grad Student For An “N-Word Pass,” But Wait…There’s More

Photo: The Salt Lake Tribune

A former Utah student has filed a lawsuit against both the Davis School District and her former basketball coach for racial discrimination. According to ABC 4, Ebony Davis says that she experienced harassment on a regular basis, and even alleges that she was called the N-word while walking through the halls. – Candace McDuffie Read More

First A Nazi Rally, Now Even More Racism Found Throughout Ohio

Photo: WOIO

After a Nazi march that took place last month in Columbus, Ohio, disturbing racist signs are now popping up in Cleveland. The flyers, which promote white supremacist ideology, have been seen in the Tremont neighborhood as reported by local station WOIO. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Joe Budden Charged For Being Naked Outside of His Neighbor’s Home, But What Really Happened?

Photo: Getty Images Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Before celebrating the new year, former rapper and popular podcaster Joe Budden has found himself in some legal trouble.

On Monday, a statement by the Edgewater Police Department in New Jersey claimed that on the morning of December 4, officers responded to a call at an apartment complex claiming that Budden was naked outside of someone’s door. – Noah A. McGee Read More

The Root Remembers One of Our Own: Stephanie Holland

Staff Writer Stephanie Holland at the 2024 Primetime Emmys. Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Holland’s family

Death is never an easy thing to deal with. But it’s especially tough when it involves a colleague here at The Root and someone who I personally considered as a friend: Stephanie Holland. According to her family, she passed away on Dec. 31. She was 47 years old. – Shanelle Genai Read More

The MAGA Faithful Pressured These Major Companies to Abolish DEI Programs in 2024…It Will Only Get Worse In 2025

Photo: Getty Images Michael Siluk

In 2024, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at several of the nation’s largest companies came undone as prominent figures like Elon Musk voiced their disapproval. And it looks like the trend of coming for the programs will continue in 2025. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

The Heartbreaking Struggles of Tiger Woods From Billion Dollar Icon to the Disastrous Crashes That Nearly Stole His Life

The Heartbreaking Struggles of Tiger Woods From Billion Dollar Icon to the Disastrous Crashes That Nearly Stole His Life

From jaw-dropping scandals to headline-grabbing mishaps, we’re unpacking the wild story of Tiger Woods’ tumultuous superstardom in the public eye …
The Tragedy and Triumphs of The Braxton Sisters Over the Years

The Tragedy and Triumphs of The Braxton Sisters Over the Years

In honor of what would’ve been Traci Braxton’s 55th birthday, let’s take a look at the Braxton sisters’ interesting history of success and hardships! …
Black America Reacts to Trump Firing Attorney General Pam Bondi

Black America Reacts to Trump Firing Attorney General Pam Bondi

Black Twitter is buzzing with comments about President Trump’s decision to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi …
New Study: DNA Testing Could Be the Key to Saving Black Women With Breast Cancer

New Study: DNA Testing Could Be the Key to Saving Black Women With Breast Cancer

Led by Dr. Sonya Reid, a Black physician, a new study shows how DNA-based tumor analysis can help close the survival gap for Black women with aggressive breast cancer …
Why the Internet is Obsessed With This Black Woman's Disability-Friendly Recipes That Don’t Require Stoves, Knives or Standing

Why the Internet is Obsessed With This Black Woman’s Disability-Friendly Recipes That Don’t Require Stoves, Knives or Standing

No standing. No cutting. No problem! Meet the Black content creator who creates disability-friendly recipes that’s taking the internet by storm …
WATCH: The Wild Moment a Woman Tries to Ram 2 Chainz Off the Road 

WATCH: The Wild Moment a Woman Tries to Ram 2 Chainz Off the Road 

Rapper 2 Chainz’s regular commute included a wild confrontation with a driver who tried ramming his car— and it was all caught on camera …
Meagan Good Finally Responds to Skin Bleaching Backlash

Meagan Good Finally Responds to Skin Bleaching Backlash

Meagan Good is finally clearing the air and addressing the criticisms she’s received over past skin bleaching claims …
Florida Vice Mayor Found Dead Inside Home as Police Investigate Husband for the Crime

Florida Vice Mayor Found Dead Inside Home as Police Investigate Husband for the Crime

The city of Coral Springs celebrated the election of first Black and Haitian American female commissioner. Now, they’re forced to mourn her shocking murder …
After Tyler Perry Attempts to Pay TSA Works Himself, DHS Finally Steps In

After Tyler Perry Attempts to Pay TSA Works Himself, DHS Finally Steps In

To help ease financial pain on TSA amid the government shutdown, billionaire Tyler Perry stepped in… and then, this happened …
As War in Iran Rages, How Much Higher Can Gas Prices Really Get?

As War in Iran Rages, How Much Higher Can Gas Prices Really Get?

Gasoline prices are up in every state since the Iran war begin and they’re expected to rise …
The Shocking Reason Why Leslie Jones Says the 'Tradwife' Life is Not for Her

The Shocking Reason Why Leslie Jones Says the ‘Tradwife’ Life is Not for Her

Leslie Jones may be single, but that doesn’t mean she’s rushing to walk down the aisle anytime soon. Now, she’s sharing the surprising and hilarious reason why …
Chess, Not Checkers: The Calculated Brilliance of Cardi B’s Corporate Takeover

Chess, Not Checkers: The Calculated Brilliance of Cardi B’s Corporate Takeover

Cardi B admitted many folks assume she’s an “airhead,” however, she’s using the misconception to her advantage. It’s time we stop underestimating her …
10 Years After Tulsa Police Killed Unarmed Black Man, His Family Is 1 Step Closer to Justice

10 Years After Tulsa Police Killed Unarmed Black Man, His Family Is 1 Step Closer to Justice

Nearly 10 years have passed since Terence Crutcher was shot and killed by Tulsa police. Now, his family is finally getting a taste of justice …
Son Steals from a Popular Food Truck and Then Black Mom Makes This Viral Gesture

Son Steals from a Popular Food Truck and Then Black Mom Makes This Viral Gesture

Musa, a food truck vendor, was shocked when the mother of the young Black man who stole money from his tip jar later came to repay the stolen amount …
Who Is Victor Glover, the Black Astronaut NASA Is Sending to the Moon

Who Is Victor Glover, the Black Astronaut NASA Is Sending to the Moon

Victor Glover will be the first Black American astronaut to reach the moon… And he’s the pilot! …
Regina Hall Explains Why She Almost Became A Nun In Her 40s

Regina Hall Explains Why She Almost Became A Nun In Her 40s

‘Scary Movie’ star Regina Hall is opening up about a particularly interesting time in her life and what led to her almost becoming a nun! …
Why Black Folks Should Participate in the Black Census Project

Why Black Folks Should Participate in the Black Census Project

With four years until the national census, leaders are urging Black folks to make their voices heard after the third launch of the Black Census Project …
Will We Ever See Another Black NBA MVP?

Will We Ever See Another Black NBA MVP?

The shift isn’t about skill. It’s about how the game is being taught …
Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Norwood is finally opening up about the relationship she shared with Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris. And the details are as eye-opening as you’d expect! …
White Influencer's Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model's Photo

White Influencer’s Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model’s Photo

You’ll never guess what Lauren Blake Boultier, a white influencer, blamed after she allegedly stole a Black model’s photo in a bizarre Photoshop fail …