The Root

Trigger Warning: Some of these images may be upsetting to some viewers.Read more...

Two Louisiana families are grieving after experiencing two heartbreaking tragedies on the same night. Engaged couple Alexus Lee and John JR" Collins were preparing to celebrate one of the happiest days of their lives before their love story was cut short by the unthinkable.Read more...

May 21 marks what would've been the 53rd birthday of Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G.-the Brooklyn-born rapper whose voice, flow, and storytelling changed the face of hip-hop forever.Read more...

Philadelphia Eagles' A.J. Brown gave a candid take on how money, power, and fame in the NFL can fuel the downright toxic behavior of athletes. As many players get entangled in bombshell love triangles and scandals, it's no surprise Brown is sounding the alarm on the fetishization of women and sexual addiction.Read more...

She may have two A-list celebrity parents in Beyonce and Jay-Z, but it didn't take long for Rumi Carter to make a name for herself. Fans have been loving every minute of her on-stage appearances during the Cowboy Carter" tour. But they also can't help but get emotional watching the beautiful family photo dump Bey...Read more...

May 19 would have been the 100th birthday of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the man most know as Malcolm X. As such, Black folks have reflected on the man and his legacy by going to social media and posting his picture or a favorite quote.Read more...

Following several days of testifying to enduring years of domestic abuse in the Sean Diddy" Combs trial, many folks have had one (aggravating) question for Casandra Cassie" Ventura: Why did she stay with Diddy all those years? Well, theFeds' latest witness answers that question.Read more...

History always repeats itself, but what happens if you never learn your lesson the first time? As President Donald Trump continues his deportation mandate, many are concerned his disregard for court orders will have grave consequences.Read more...

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas speaking out about his son's scary car accident back in April. And now he's revealing exactly what happened to cause the fiery scene in the first place.Read more...

The red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival was on fire with elevated looks from our favorites stars. Our Black celebs didn't just show up - they showed out, serving amazing looks that were as radiant and timeless as the films they came to celebrate. Here were some of our top picks.Read more...

Even if you weren't around when the band got their start in the late 1950s, you've definitely experienced the music of The Isley Brothers. With a sound that combines R&B, rock, funk and soul, their music has been been heavily sampled and covered by the likes of Ice Cube, The Beatles and Whitney Houston.Read more...

Sharay Hayes, an exotic dancer who goes by The Punisher," took the witness stand this week to recount the times he interacted with Sean Diddy" Combs and the rapper's ex-girlfriend, Cassandra Cassie" Ventura. However, he said their sexual interactions were stunted by a few things that caught him off guard.Read more...

Amentha Hunt went to Harrison-Ross Mortuary in Compton, Calif., to pay her respects to her uncle Otis Adkinson, who died on Feb. 28 at 80. But though her family signed a contract with the business to prepare her uncle's body for burial and gave them one of his suits to wear at the April 7 viewing, Hunt made a...Read more...

The viral video of Denzel Washington confronting the photographer who tested his patience at Cannes continues to pull comments on social media, but now we have a good idea of what he actually said.Read more...

If you've been in any corner of the internet where they're talking about Beyonce's Cowboy Carter" tour (which is basically everywhere), you already know that Rumi Carter is that girl right now. From her bubbly personality to her adorable looks, fans are eating up everything they can about the 7-year-old who, along...Read more...

Carmelo Anthony might've hung up his jersey, but his real estate game is still making headlines. And now one of his former properties is up for grabs-but only if you're willing to dish out big bucks!Read more...

We all remember the wild drama among the women on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta," but nothing could compare to the hilarious moments with Kandi Burruss' mother, Mama Joyce. Known for her unfiltered tell it like it is" attitude, she has never been one to hold back her disdain for Burruss' partner and...Read more...

Tory Lanez is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of charges related to the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Although he's behind bars, the Houston-raised rapper says Lanez and his fans won't let her move on by continuing to harass her and suggest she's lying about the details of the...Read more...

After Cassandra Cassie" Ventura bravely took the stand in Sean Diddy" Combs' federal trial to account years of physical and emotional trauma, her mother also testified to corroborate her story. Regina Ventura testified that Combs' jealousy went way beyond confronting the pop singer.Read more...

Read more...

More information is coming out about Wendy Williams and her prison"-like living arrangements. And what we've just learned might come as a surprise.Read more...

The city of Chicagohas found itself in the middle of a political scandal after the Department of Justice announced a new investigation into the city's mayor. Brandon Johnson has served as Chicago's mayor for almost two years, and now, his job is in jeopardy after one interview caught the attention of the federal...Read more...

The internet just can't get enough of celebrity look-alikes, and neither can we! On TikTok, celebrity doppelgangers continue to grow their platform for making content impersonating some of our favorite stars. So now, The Root is diving deep into their world and exploring if they actually look like the celebs they...Read more...

While social media is placing bets on which escaped inmate will be captured last, or never, authorities are investigating just how 10 men successfully broke out of a New Orleans jail. According to reports, the men, including four who are charged with second-degree murder and remain on the run, had some assistance.Read more...

When she started working on UNTOLD: The Fall of Favre," a new Netflix documentary that follows some of the most disgraceful parts of NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre's career, director Rebecca Gitlitz told The Guardian that she wanted to explore whether some people are above the law.Read more...

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore just pulled the plug on a state-approved bill to create a commission to study and recommend reparations for the slavery and discrimination that's taken place in America. Needless to say, Black folks are big mad.Read more...

The latest bombshell witness to take the stand is David James, the former personal assistant to Sean Diddy" Combs who is currently on trial for federal sex crimes. As you can expect, riding so closely with Combs exposed the man to a slew of things- so much so, he broke down in tears on the stand.Read more...

A Memphis graduate is fighting for her life after a celebratory trip took a horrifying turn. Hannah Smith graduated summa cum laude on May 3 from Miles College located in Alabama. She and a friend traveled to the Bahamas to celebrate, then the unthinkable happened.Read more...

While Denzel Washington may be enjoying his time overseas promoting his forthcoming film, Highest to Lowest" at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, one moment almost threatened his joy. And we've got the footage to prove it!Read more...

Since its inception in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has been the place to celebrate the best in film from all over the world. Those lucky enough to score an invite are expected to show up and show out in their finest evening wear (think: tuxedos and evening gowns). But in recent years, some of the outfits that have...Read more...

When former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard took the stand this week against Sean Diddy" Combs, she did not hold back in the descriptions of the horrors she says she witnessed. Based on one alleged incident she cited, she recalled the celebrities who was allegedly present during an incident she says occurred between...Read more...

The Black social media-verse has been ablaze with reaction to the burning down of Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, La. Officials believe the cause of the 160-year-old structure's destruction may have been electrical. But it is a place of history, and what was lost despite what it represented was a window into the...Read more...

This conversation has been a long time coming. We didn't have it when we found out what was going on with Bill Cosby. The discussion still didn't happen when the news broke about R. Kelly. With Diddy's every embarrassing - and perhaps illegal - move being laid out to the world in court...maybe it's a good time to talk...Read more...

You've likely seen the video of a Black student twerking across the graduation stage to the dismay of an administrator. Welcome to Black graduation season, where Black joy is on display as a new generation celebrates academic achievements. Viral videos of Black graduates dancing, strolling and celebrating have sparked...Read more...

There's a reason why Kandi Burruss' list of accomplishments is way too long to list here. The GRAMMY award-winning singer and songwriter is also a bad-ass businesswoman, with a jaw-dropping net worth of 30 million dollars. Her focus and determination have helped her launch successful ventures in cosmetics, clothing...Read more...

South Africa's president won't offer refugee status and a chartered airplane to Black Americans when he visits the White House on Wednesday. But if he uses the same standards Donald Trump used in bringing a plane load of white Afrikaners to the United States last week, he should.Read more...

Since May 15, when the news broke of a fire which burned Nottoway Plantation, the largest antebellum plantation in the South, to the ground, Black folks have been sharing their excitement all across social media. For people whose ancestors endured slavery, it's not hard to wonder why they would rejoice in the news of...Read more...

Monday kicked off the federal sex crime trial against Sean Diddy" Combs with some fiery testimonies that revealed a number of horrendous details regarding the rapper's relationship to Casandra Cassie" Ventura. Their statements leave us wondering, who didn't witness the domestic abuse?Read more...

It has undoubtedly been a challenging year for Black people in America. Though the iconic leaders of the past are no longer with us, we can readily surmise their perspectives on contemporary issues. For example, Malcolm X's incisive critiques of racism and political hypocrisy resonate powerfully with the Trump era....Read more...

The former best friend of Casandra Cassie" Ventura took the stand this week to testify against Sean Diddy" Combs in his ongoing federal sex crime trial. Ventura previously testified that the friendship went to shambles after Combs allegedly assaulted her friend. However, there's much, much more crazy s- that just...Read more...

It seems some of hip-hop's most notable rappers are once again showing us exactly where they stand-and this time, it's in support of Tory Lanez. And trust us when we tell you...it's a disappointing sight to see.Read more...

Summer is right around the corner, which means one thing for music fans: concert season is back again. Every summer, music's biggest acts take to arenas and stadiums across the world, bringing people together to celebrate and sing along to their favorite artists.Read more...

Times are getting tough for Hip-Hop mogul Sean Diddy" Combs. In the latest of the ongoing Puff Daddy struggles, he just put his $61.5 million home up for sale, with sources close to him saying this comes as no surprise."

A North Carolina man is still recovering after a fight with a wild animal almost cost him his life. Now, James Pulliam is telling the unbelievable true story of how he survived the brutal attack.Read more...

Chicken wasn't the only thing getting served in a Charlotte Popeye's - the manager added some hot bullets to the two-fist combo. What started as a kitchen squabble turned into a full-blown shootout, and the restaurant manager is now facing some serious charges.Read more...

Months have passed since Beyonce and other celebrities endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for president. But now, in a late night, President Donald Trump revealed major plans for revenge aimed at some major celebrities. And as expected, many people- especially Black folks- are giving side eyes.Read more...

With Donald Trump 2.0 in the White House, Black people are already thinking about how his policies will impact our communities. We've already seen a rise in book bans and challenges across the country and attempts to revise the Black history curriculum to remove anything that might make white students feel guilt,...Read more...

What business does a 35-year-old woman have cussing out a Black middle schooler? This North Carolina Karen's whole racist tirade got caught on video. Her behavior was so nasty, the authorities had to get involved.Read more...

When it comes to iconic voices in Black history, few resonate louder-or hit harder-than Malcolm X. Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, the civil rights legend would've turned 100 this year, but his words remain as sharp, fearless, and relevant as ever.Read more...

What was meant to be a relaxing solo camping trip became a fight for survival for one Georgia woman after her three-day excursion turned into a nearly three-week test of her tenacity in the California mountains. Tiffany Slaton's parents reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for nine days.Read more...