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What Ever Happened to Dionne Farris?
Singer Dionne Farris had become little more than a musical footnote, that talented backup singer on Arrested Development’s alternative hip-hop classic “Tennessee,” who wrested the song from lead vocalist Speech as she wailed, “won’t you help me, won’t you help me, understand your plan.” Thankfully, she has resurfaced—on the Internet. For Truth If Not Love…
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The No. 1 New HBO Series
At first blush, HBO’s new series, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, is an exercise in naiveté: It’s set in modern Botswana, but with its lush, color-saturated scenery, easy-going characters and airy, all’s-well-that-ends-well approach, it feels like a throwback to a mythical Africa, a kinder, gentler Africa that has little to do with the realities…
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Why I Love Soulja’s Swag
Soulja Boy Tellem! Hopped up out tha bed, Turn ma swag on, Took a look in tha mirror said wassup, Yeeeeea, I’m gettin’ money (oohhh) -“Turn My Swag On” by Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em I have to admit, I sort of begrudgingly love Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On.” Though the Blackademic within should probably…
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Learn To Cook, Learn To Save
Last night I went out only because a friend assured me that this lounge had a happy hour special that consisted of .50 cent martinis. I don’t even drink martinis, but when I heard .50 cent drinks I thought why not. It turns out that person was misinformed: The special wasn’t from 6-10 — it…
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Strands of Strength
Saaret Yoseph is a writer and Assistant Editor at TheRoot.com. She manages and blogs for \”Their Eyes Were Watching …\” My hair, in my opinion, is a slight determining factor of how people perceive me because it is short. But I am happy with the nappy roots God has blessed me with. —Anita Dargan Have…
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Can Circumcision Help AIDS Epidemic?
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a report about the health benefits of circumcision. After studying the sexual patterns of 3500 Ugandan men researchers from John Hopkins concluded circumcision reduced the risk of Herpes by 25% and believe it could curb HIV. Now I’ll be candid here: I’m one of those circumcised men. …
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Hair Peace: A 5-Part Manifesto
Will the black hair wars ever end? Will the morning hair-combing hostilities between black mothers and daughters ever cease? Will the permed vs. natural debate be resolved in our lifetime? As a veteran of the Great Hair Skirmishes of the 1960s, I witnessed a brief, shining moment when large numbers of black women conquered the…
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Will Black Salons Survive the Recession?
For many black women, a trip to the salon is more than just pampering. A missed appointment can add hours to a black woman’s week—pulling through tangles and wrestling with blow-dryers and flatirons. More than the tiresome manual labor, missing a regular spot means missing the black salon experience: the enclave of warmth, comfort and…
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An Economic Twist on Hair
WEDNESDAY, 12 P.M. — Have a pressing hair question? It’s time to get things straight. Share your hairstory with The Root and join the washingtonpost.com Live Online discussion: AN ECONOMIC TWIST ON HAIR with Yodith Dammlash and Delece Smith-Barrow. ***** The bank might be calling about the mortgage. The lights might get cut. The car may break down on…
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What's Your Twist on Hair?
You’ve read our take on tangles and locks. Now it’s time for you to weigh in. How has the recession affected your ‘do? What’s your best or worst hair memory? We know you have plenty to say, so write in to TheRootTwist@gmail.com and share your twist on hair with The Root. Be sure to include…