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He's Not Black?
Did anyone read Marie Arana’s opinion piece in Sunday’s Washington Post? If not, don’t bother. Here’s a synopsis (Well, actually, it’s an impersonation): Barack Obama is not black. He is multi-racial, like me (Arana). We can’t keep calling him black. If we do, then we will be ignoring his other ethnicities. But, since we are…
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World AIDS Day 2008
Here’s a thought experiment: What if black America was its own country? We’d be relatively big, with a population roughly the size of the northeastern United States. We’d have an up-and-coming economy, in league with countries like South Africa and Argentina. And we’d be one of the least healthy places on Earth. Black folks have…
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The White, White House Press Corps
Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign boosted—no, it actually created—the careers of a whole cadre of black political reporters. Barack Obama’s historic capture of Oval Office? Well, not so much. The reasons behind the white-out of the Obama campaign are varied and complex, ranging from the reduction of general political coverage by mainstream media to fewer…
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The Obama Effect on Publishing
The first time I noticed the question being asked, the victory parties were barely over, tears of joy were still being shed and Oprah continued to vibrate. Inquiring minds in the black literary community really wanted an answer: Would there be an Obama effect in the publishing industry? People weren’t talking about Barack Obama’s own…
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Room for (High) Rent
What’s a place in history worth? For a spot close to the inaugural city, out-of-towners are willing to shell out some major cash, spending as much as $57,000 a week for rent in Washington D.C or neighboring cities. With an expected one million visitors descending on the capital city this January, many local residents hope…
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Where Did Joe Biden Go?
With all the talk about the economy and Obama’s transition team, The Buzz completely forgot about the soon-to-be second in command. Does anyone know what the heck happened to Joe Biden? Last we saw him, the potential VP was blowing out candles on the cupcakes Obama surprised him with for Biden’s 66th birthday. Perhaps, the…
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An Ode to Layaway
Many folks older than 25 spent their childhoods at the layaway counter, wayyyyyyyyy in the back of a store, watching Mama put away that fly winter coat, entry-level designer bag or warm boots until they were paid in full. Now layaway is back! Over the past two decades, it had become little more than a…
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Why I Hate Stuffing
Last year, The Root’s deputy editor, Terence Samuel, revealed that he hated stuffing. The staff at The Root couldn’t believe it, and neither could many of our loyal readers. The original article is printed below. I hate stuffing. No, I’m not saying that I hate a particular kind of stuffing—like stuffing that’s too bread-crumby, or…
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Roots and Wings
Nov. 27, 2008—In this season of thanksgiving, I’m grateful for women. Not just my female friends, relatives and colleagues but women whose oft-uncelebrated sacrifices keep the world running. Women like the ones President-elect Barack Obama has lost, and the one with whom he remains. They all remind me of a beautiful, little-known song: “Roots and…
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'Tis the Season of Spending
Nov. 28, 2008—In a recent Kmart commercial, a man asks, “Didn’t we just carve pumpkins?” as his wife happily rushes off to get a jump on her holiday shopping. The spot, which started airing before Halloween, makes light of the fact that enticements to holiday spending seem to start earlier each year. Retailers are scrambling…