The Root

As we celebrate America's Independence Day, it's never been more important that we remind the world how vital Black people have been to the country's evolution. No matter how much some folks want to deny it, the USA would not be where it is financially, technologically, or culturally without the contributions of Black...Read more...

Indiana authorities were on the search for a 14-year-old Black boy the past two weeks until he finally reappeared mysteriously. We don't know what's more suspicious, his sudden vanishing or the domestic abuse accusations that came against his family at the same time of his disappearance.

The Fourth of July is here. Meaning everyone and their momma will be hosting a cookout to entertain friends and family. While food may be the most important part of the cookout, another key ingredient is the music.Read more...

The country is getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July. For some, it's a time to remember the birth of our nation. But let's face it, for Black folks, it's more about a day off and the perfect excuse to get together with family and friends to eat and drink.

The 24th Annual BET Awards took place on Sunday (June 30) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at the internet is still buzzing about it. From Taraji's influencer mixup to Usher's all-female tribute, the night provided some unforgettable and very viral moments. Over the years, the ceremony has also provided some...Read more...

We are smack dab in the middle of summer cookout season, which means we're deeply invested in barbecue planning. Once we get past the inevitable fights about who will make what, we have to decide who's invited. Obviously, close family, the neighbors who return things on time and friends who know how to act in your...Read more...

Although Barack Obama was the first Black person to become the President of the United States, he likely won't be the last. Unfortunately, that won't happen during this upcoming election.

For a long time, the captivating draw of British TV was a well kept secret. However, the streaming takeover has led audiences to discover the deeper, more complex stories often told across the pond. The latest series to capture viewers' interest is Netflix's Supacell," which has fans wondering what other comedies and...Read more...

After a three-year-long lawsuit against the City of Atlanta, Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim have been awarded $2 million in damages.Read more...

From NYC to Paris, fashion designer Marc Jacobs has showcased his designs at some of the hottest fashion shows in the industry. His fashion-forward celebrity fans include Naomi Campbell and Janelle Monae. But these days, Jacobs is getting more buzz about his own fashion flair than anything he's sending down the runway.

Amid her ongoing feud with Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion is taking the time to give flowers to the artists who inspired her, including the legendary Lil' Kim.Read more...

Taraji P. Henson confusing influencer Jordan Howlett with food critic Keith Lee at the 2024 BET Awards made for quite the embarrassing - and viral -moment. During the segment, Henson was giving people their flowers to celebrate them and spoke to Howlett believing he was Lee.Read more...

Queen Bey has approved this message! Beyonce gave Victoria Monet and Teyana Taylor a major shoutout after their epic performance over the weekend, sharing clips from their much-talked-about moment to her Instagram story, a move that left Monet and Taylor in awe.Read more...

On Tuesday night, President Joe Biden once again talked about his debate performance last week and how it wasn't very smart" for him to travel heavily before the event. At a campaign fundraiser in McLean, Virginia, Biden attempted to explain his lackluster presence on the debate stage in Atlanta.Read more...

One of the most highly-anticipated films of the year is acclaimed director Ridley Scott's Gladiator II." It stars Paul Mescal as an adult Lucius, the young heir from the first film. After defying the Roman Empire, he becomes a prisoner, forced to fight in the arena. In addition to excitement over the continuation of...Read more...

For the youngins who aren't familiar, B.G. was one of the early signees of Birdman's Cash Money Records, years before Drake and Nicki Minaj were the headlines of the label. He was a part of the New Orleans hip-hop group Hot Boys which included Turk, Juvenile, and a young Lil Wayne.Read more...

From playing a slave on a Louisiana cotton plantation in the 2013 Steve McQueen drama 12 Years a Slave to an ass-kicking international spy in the Black Panther series, Lupita Nyong'o's career has been filled with performances that leave her audiences with all the feels.Read more...

Though it's been nearly 20 years since the death of beloved singer and musical legend Luther Vandross, his life and legacy is about to be centerstage once more thanks to an upcoming documentary: Luther: Never Too Much.Read more...

It was a normal pool day for Ms. H and two of her children. The mother, dressed in a hijab and modest swimming wear, was with her six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter at the pool in their complex when they were approached by a woman, Elizabeth Wolf, back in May.Read more...

Before she heads to her third Olympics, gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles hung out with one of her biggest fans, who also happens to be Grammy-winning singer SZA. Turns out, the two superstars have something in common, as the Kill Bill" singer was a gymnast when she was younger.

In 2021, the Louisiana neighborhood of Bogalusa was terrorized by a Black man who rode around shooting aimlessly at children and families. Turns out he sent out a warning ahead of his shooting spree.

As Eddie Murphy returns to the role that made him a megastar, he's revealing some secrets about his rise to superstardom. With Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" debuting on Netflix July 3, the actor is discussing his previous go rounds as Axel Foley. One of the major changes we've seen from Murphy's early work is the...Read more...

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump might be entitled to immunity fromhis behavior during the final days of his presidency and as it pertained to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That decision may have damning effects on the Georgia racketeering case against him.Read more...

Young Thug's YSL Rico trial has been anything but normal - not only due to his popularity as an artist but also the shenanigans that have occurred in the courtroom.Read more...

The Supreme Court has been on a roll with major back-to-back rulings on homelessness, abortion, the environment, and much more. On Monday, the court ruled that American presidents have partial immunity" for official acts committed while in office - if it's determined that former President Donald Trump incited the...Read more...

It wasn't all glamorous smiles and celebrations at Sunday's 2024 BET Awards. For one artist, the night was full of turmoil and drama.

Documents obtained by TMZ revealed that a disturbing lawsuit has been filed in a U.S. District Court against Kanye West and his former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos. It alleges that West and Yiannopoulous engaged in forced labor and cruel inhuman, or degrading treatment" at the company YZY.Read more...

Four deputies from the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement were accused of giving their Black co-worker a pretty hard time last year. By a hard time, we mean they allegedly racially harassed him for months - so bad, it resulted in cuffs for every cop involved.

Patricia McGill is doing something she never thought she'd be able to do - preparing to celebrate her 80th birthday. That's because, at age 13, the Houston native was diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

The blue carpet at the 2024 BET Awards was full of iconic dos and gawdy don'ts. Angela Simmons, the daughter of Hip-Hop mogul Rev Run Simmons, showed up and showed out on the carpet, but some viewers weren't feeling her look.Read more...

Some Democrats - most notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - are willing to take things into their own hands after the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that former President Donald Trump can claim immunity from criminal prosecution for some of the things he did as president.Read more...

On Sunday, Usher received his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 BET Awards.Read more...

All President Joe Biden needed to do during the first presidential debate June 27 was ensure the American people he could stand up to former President Donald Trump as a strong and competent leader. Considering Trump's well-documented, tenuous relationship with the truth, this shouldn't have been too difficult.Read more...

Gabby Thomas, 27, won the 200 meter dash during the U.S. Olympic trials this weekend, putting her on schedule to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. One would think as the games speedily approach, she'd be consumed by training and conditioning. However, Thomas refused to spend her whole 24 hours on the track.

Megan Thee Stallion is on a full-fledged media blitz promoting her new album, Megan." In addition to her recent show-stopping performance at the 2024 BET Awards, she also appears on the new episode of Club Shay Shay."

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Monday that removes yet another roadblock forformer President Donald Trump to glide back into the White House if elected in November.Read more...

In France, the far-right National Rally party - rooted in antisemitism and racism - won a record number of votes Sunday in the first round of legislative elections and could win an absolute parliamentary majority in the July 7 runoff election.Read more...

Jamie Foxx's health scare last year was one of the biggest stories in entertainment. Everyone in the world was wondering what happened to the talented, singer, actor, and all-around entertainer.Read more...

Every award season, the ladies' fashions are usually the center of attention. But at this year's BET Awards, we couldn't help but notice how many guys brought their fashion A-game to the red carpet at the event honoring the best in Black culture.Read more...

Damnnn, son. In the same day, four Missouri prison guards got mollywopped with both murder charges and a lawsuit. For what, you ask? The cops were named in the alleged ambush and torturous death of a Black inmate during a drug raid.

Since the end of 2023, four Harvard University employees have been been accused of plagiarism. Each of them have two very obvious things in common that will remind everyone that we are, in fact, dealing with an institution with an historical reputation of racism.

Back in the day, Janet Jackson; Mariah Carey; Missy Elliott; Aaliyah; and Whitney Houston dominated the music world. While Janet, Mariah and Missy are still icons in the game, there's been a distinctly masculine feel to much of the disposable music being released nowadays. However, on Sunday, at the 2024 BET Awards,...Read more...

In a new lawsuit against Kanye West, the Vultures" rapper is accused of creating a hostile work environment for YZY employees working on his app that would help promote his music. In addition, West's wife Bianca Censori is also accused of sending out porn to staff which were allegedly accessible by minors in that...Read more...

The BET Awards' In Memoriam" segment is an annual moment for Black folks to take a somber look at those we lost. But Sunday's awards ceremony had an inclusion that left viewers typing WTF" on social media.Read more...

For Teyoshe Smith, making charcuterie spreads for family and friends' events started as a labor of love. But as the appetite for their delicious displays increased, Smith began selling her creations on Facebook Marketplace in May 2022 and using lunch breaks at her day job as a project manager at Capital One to deliver...Read more...

Last night, the BET Awards was once again the annual spectacle that it always is. Host Taraji P. Henson gave us a fun take on Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us," women rappers like Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Latto and Ice Spice gave captivating performances, Shaboozey finally teamed up with J-Kwon for an ultimate...Read more...

Award shows are usually predictable affairs. However, when you have Taraji P. Henson running things, expect the unexpected. For the BET Awards, the actual categories and winners have always been secondary to the performances. This year's show was no different. With highly-anticipated appearances from Megan Thee...Read more...

At the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday, Usher received the well-deserved (and arguably long overdue) Lifetime Achievement Award.

The BET Awards are known as Culture's biggest night." The title is definitely earned on the red carpet, where the most prominent Black stars in entertainment and sports bring their best fashion. After an unconventional show in 2023, the event returns to full force in 2024 with Taraji P. Henson hosting, Usher...Read more...

Saturday Night Live has been a pillar of American comedy since the mid-70s. When 19-year-old Eddie Murphy joined the cast from 1980-1985, many said those were the best seasons of SNL.Read more...