The Root

Singing competition shows are my guilty pleasure. I love watching the contestants grow throughout the course of the season. In the early rounds, it’s genuinely nice to see that moment when all the hard work pays off for the singers as they advance in the competition. No show does that better than American Idol. The OG…Read more...

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed released a statement Monday night in response to a leaked phone call published in a YouTube video titled “Montgomery AL’s First Black Mayor Doesn’t Care About Black Votes.” Reed was heard saying he doesn’t “f–king have to damn get the Black vote,” as long as he’s got up to 45 percent of…Read more...

Navigating the various barriers to receiving help as a domestic violence survivor is already an uphill battle. But for survivors of color, skin tone can be another barrier.Read more...

There’s no better time than Black History Month to recognize all that is amazing about Black literature. That’s why we’re launching our first annual It’s Lit Awards, a celebration of some of the most outstanding books by Black authors over the past year.Read more...

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Last week, “CNN This Morning” host Don Lemon received tons of backlash after making comments that were considered misogynistic about South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. He has not been seen on the show since Thursday and is now scheduled to return on Wednesday.Read more...

Chris Brown stays in controversy, and for the most part, it’s his own doing. Whether he’s taking shots at a deserving 2023 Grammy winner or collaborating with rising R&B singer Chloe Bailey, Brown is always doing the things we don’t want him to do.Read more...

In mid-January, a Black West Sylvan Middle School student was forced to the ground and knelt on by two students who said they would “George Floyd” him. Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero and the school board apologized a couple weeks too late for a despicable racist attack, per Oregon Public…Read more...

As WNBA free agency shakes up expectations for the 2023 season, one name fans have had their eye on is Brittney Griner. Following her 10-month wrongful detainment in Russia, there were a lot of questions about whether or not she would return to basketball. Now the eight-time all-star has answered those questions by…Read more...

Two woman-owned and founded companies, Uncle Nearest and SusieCakes, have joined forces to raise money for historically Black colleges and universities during Black History Month as a part of Uncle Nearest’s #HBCUChallenge.

Jonathan Majors is a beautiful Black man. Let’s start right there. His gorgeous skin, wide nose, full lips, and chiseled physique are enough to make anyone look twice with deep admiration and appreciation. The actor, who has been a rapidly rising star in Hollywood, recently graced the cover of EBONY magazine, which…Read more...

Let’s be real: even if your love for former President Barack Obama runs deep, most people aren’t thinking about their favorite President this weekend.Read more...

Presidents’ Day is meant to honor and remember all who have served as the leader of the free world. That sounds all good and dandy but there’s truly only one that matters to us: Barack Obama.Read more...

One week after Super Bowl LVII has come and gone, there still seems to be significant social media chatter surrounding Sheryl Lee Ralph’s historic performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing, the masterpiece written by James Weldon Johnson and composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, in 1900. Despite some time…Read more...

Melissa Harris-Perry has taken to Twitter to express shock, disgust and dismay that her show The Takeaway has been scheduled for cancellation in June. It was started in 2008 as an alternative programm to NPR’s Morning Edition, in conjunction with WNYC which co-produces The Takeaway. It is distributed by PRX.

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Behind every great person, there’s usually an inspiring life story. And if we’re lucky, they’ll share it with us in the form of an autobiography. From entertainment to politics, some of history’s most influential Black Americans have put pen to paper to tell their story. And from the highest highs to the lowest lows,…Read more...

Some of our posts include links to retailers. If you buy something from clicking on one, G/O Media may earn a commission. Because editorial staff is independent of commerce, affiliate linking does not influence our editorial content.If you love makeup as much as I do, you already know how much of your budget can go to endless shades of eyeliner and lip gloss if you’re not careful. But while the high-end department store brands are nice every once in a while, you can get plenty of great products at your local drug store for a fraction of the…Read more...

This weekend centered on the NBA All-Star Game, with special appearances by stars of all stripes, the biggest ballers, and some very special guests. Take a look at who showed up in Salt Lake City.Read more...

The 2023 movie calendar is chock full of must-see titles. With all these films to choose from, it can be hard to decide which blockbusters deserve your time and money. Should you reunite with your favorite crew of car-racing heroes? Maybe you should join the Guardians for one last adventure? Perhaps you’ve been…Read more...

Two months ago, rancher Courtney Mallery and his wife Nicole were arrested for allegedly stalking their white neighbors—despite that fact that they claim their neighbors were the ones doing the stalking (and vandalizing... and livestock killing). According to The Gazette, the couple rallied thousands of supporters to…Read more...

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The horrific murder of Brianna Ghey, a transgender girl in England, has rattled the international community. Ghey was just 16 years old when she was fatally stabbed in a park.Read more...

The Proud Boys accused of seditious conspiracy and plotting violence in order to keep Donald Trump in office with the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol are now demanding that the former president testify. The attorney for one of the five defendants, Joseph Biggs, says the law is on his side with this request.Read more...

I know the calendar still says winter, but it’s never too early to start thinking about spring – especially when it comes to your wardrobe. Shades of green, metallics and oversized blazers are just a few of the trends we’re seeing this season. But just because you don’t have designer dough, doesn’t mean you can’t get…Read more...

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Initially, when Drake and 21 Savage released a fake Vogue magazine to promote the release of their popular collaboration album, Her Loss, I thought it was a funny idea that would only increase the anticipation for the project, and it did. The album was wildly popular and for the most part, well-received.Read more...

For HBCU athletic programs, it’s a constant struggle to even the playing field with their counterparts at predominantly white institutions. It’s a non-stop fight for recognition, money and top-level recruits. Now, Howard University is being recognized with an achievement usually reserved for big-money college…Read more...

A dire new health crisis is impacting the most vulnerable Mississippians. A new report shared with NBC News found that rates of congenital syphilis among babies have increased 900% over the last five years.Read more...

On the 10th day of Black History Month, a couple of Black elementary students took matters into their own hands (literally) and forced their white peers to declare “Black Lives Matter” or otherwise suffer physical consequences. According to Springfield News-Sun, several students were punched, dragged and chased down.Read more...

On Thursday during her first town hall in Exeter, New Hampshire, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R) ran her mouth about a bigger need for anti-LGBTQ legislation. In regards to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the official 2024 GOP presidential contender remarked:Read more...

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Updated as of 2/17/2023 at 1:00 p.m. ETRead more...

R. Kelly is going to spend a lot of time in prison, that’s something we already know. But, exactly how long he’ll be behind bars is still up in the air.Read more...

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It’s been an emotionally charged Black History Month. Black Americans are still reeling from the Tyre Nichols’ video release at the end of last month, depicting five cops brutally beating 29-year-old Nichols to death.Read more...

In the Spring of 1980, I was sitting on the roof of my college residence hall wondering why I couldn’t fit in and why I had so much pain – pain that couldn’t be seen. I still remember the view, the rooftops of other buildings against the moonlit sky and the edge of the roof beckoning me to move closer, softly saying…Read more...

Though it feels like it’s been 84 years since the last, good Verzuz matchup, co-creator Swizz Beatz has dropped some new details as to what we can expect to come from the popular music battle series moving forward.Read more...

Erykah Badu is an artist who’s always surrounded by a mysterious spiritual energy. She exudes a feeling that she’s operating on a different plane of existence from the rest of us. During a recent appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, the host played a video that the “On & On” singer did for Vogue, where she took viewers…Read more...

It’s hard to overstate the severity of the backlash against the College Board’s new Advanced Placement (AP) African-American studies course.Read more...

America’s most famous mass shooting this week was Monday’s killing of three students and wounding of five others at Michigan State University, another in the country’s long, bloody and entirely unnecessary history of mass murder with high-powered guns. The Michigan State murders were tragic, needless and enraging. But…Read more...

If you’re like me, you have been waiting for the day that one of the Bailey sisters releases a solo album. Chloe Bailey announced that her long-awaited debut, In Pieces, will be released in March 2023.

Rihanna has been on everyone’s mind for the past week. Her Super Bowl Halftime show was great to watch, she revealed her second pregnancy during the performance and she just revealed the first pictures of her baby son while teasing a new album in 2023.Read more...

If you’d offered Amani Macaulay and Chima Burey a flavored whiskey six years ago, they probably would have given you some serious stink eye. But these days, the Miami-based friends have made flavored whiskey their business, and it’s paying off.

If Shuri is your favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe character, and you need more Black girl geniuses in your life, then the new animated series, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, is definitely going to be must watch TV. The show follows 13-year-old science genius Lunella Lafayette as she uses her brilliance to…Read more...

In another revolting attempt to celebrate Black History Month, a daycare put their toddlers in blackface to teach a lesson on… I honestly don’t know. According to Local 10 News, parents were so outraged after seeing the pictures, they began looking for other daycares to put them in.

Ready or not, the sequel to the 2007 hit film I Am Legend is coming to a big screen near us soon. Thus far, details have been kept to a minimum. But we do know that the forthcoming film will see Will Smith back in saddle alongside Creed and Black Panther Star Michael B. Jordan. We also now have more info on what we…Read more...

Two weeks ago, Alonzo Bagley was shot and killed by Louisiana police when they responded to a domestic disturbance call. According to CNN, he had previously had a violent run-in with the same police department a few years ago which led to a lawsuit.

While there’s no doubt many fans of Rihanna were elated to see her make her grand return to music during the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, some are wondering why she accepted the opportunity after previously opting not to in support of Colin Kaepernick.Read more...