The Root

Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard a new term and just adopted it to sound smart. (No, just me?) Well, here’s a term you’ve likely heard floating around in the last couple of years, reproductive justice.Read more...

This year we gained a new Black Panther and DC superhero, so we at the Root decided we’d share some iconic Black sci-fi characters from movies, shows, and books with you. Enjoy!

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You know what they say, patience is a virtue, and sometimes, true patience is rewarded. As we all witnessed last week, a very calm, cool, and collected Patriot’s fan by the name of Jerry Edmond was able to maintain his composure as a white woman harassed him for existing during last Saturday’s game against the…Read more...

If you’re spending today surrounded by your friends and family, take a moment to extend your gratitude to the most high, as everyone is not as fortunate. For Meek Mill who knows all too well what it feels like to be away from home on the holidays, the time he spent locked up served as the impetus to help a few…Read more...

You can say what you’d like about the man’s political policies, but if there’s one thing we know about Barack Obama, it’s that he’s got great taste. Every year as we approach the holiday season, the country awaits the former president’s list of favorite music, movies, and recommended reads.Read more...

Somebody call up the Netflix writers, because this scandal was made for the screen. A former Coppin State University basketball player is suing an assistant basketball coach for manipulating him into sending nudes and sexually suggestive texts, and blackmailing him into taping a sexual encounter before leaking all…Read more...

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The great thing about all these extra holidays is that you finally have time to catch up on all those movies and shows you swore you were going to watch. Before 2023 shows up and makes your list even longer, check out our handy guide to all the movies and TV series to binge before the end of the year.Read more...

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As Tory Lanez was being taken into custody in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon, (much to his chagrin, I’m sure), there were a few other unhappy campers in the courtroom. Namely, Tory, Sr. also known as Sonstar Peterson, father of Daystar, or Tory Lanez.Read more...

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You know how much we love books at The Root. And from historical fiction to stunning sci-fi to colorful picture books for children, 2022 hit us with so many amazing works of fiction from Black authors. So when we were asked to put together a list of our favorites, we had plenty of great books to choose from.

Updated 12/23/2022 at 6:44 p.m. ETRead more...

No matter how crazy this world gets, sports seems to be the one thing that can bring people together. Fanbases unite, cities come together and for a few hours, we can all relax and just enjoy watching our favorites. This year gave us plenty of awesome, unforgettable moments to go crazy over, none of which would have…Read more...

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It’s hard not to like Oriaku Njoku, the magnetic Executive Director of The National Network of Abortion Funds. They joined the abortion fund in June, just as the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, throwing decades of precedent protecting abortion out of the window. But the utter chaos surrounding them at all times…Read more...

Disney has some of the most beloved shows and movies of our childhoods. As we near the release of the much anticipated, The Little Mermaid, we have to look back at some of the Black people, shows, and movies that bring us joy.

Given the events of the past year, it’s almost hard to recall that not long ago, Jackson, Mississippi, wasn’t the city that immediately and most prominently conjured images of what it meant to live at the intersection of failing infrastructure, systemic racism and awful leadership by public officials.Read more...

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Updated as of 12/22/2022 at 5:24 p.m. ETRead more...

With just over a week left to go before 2023, the organizers of an effort to tally a comprehensive accounting of the political, economic and social priorities of Black folks in the United States are looking for your help in crossing the finish line.

Correction as of 7:35p.m.ET on 12/22/2022:Read more...

I don’t know about you, but I’m counting the minutes until I can enjoy some much-needed relaxation this holiday season. And when I finally punch out for the rest of the year, nothing will come between me and my couch—that is, unless D’Angelo decides to do a free pop-up concert in Brooklyn.

New York City reached a $3 million settlement with the family of Khiel Coppin, a teen fatally shot by the NYPD in 2007, per the NY Daily News. Coppin was shot more than 20 times while surrendering. Just moments before, he had been holding a hair brush which the police mistook for a firearm.

Today marks the premiere of the third and final iteration of the popular Best Man franchise, The Best Man: The Final Chapters.Read more...

Two DC police officers involved in a chase that resulted in the death of a young Black man have been found guilty of second-degree murder, according to the Huffington Post. Karon Hylton-Brown, 20, was riding his moped on a sidewalk when the police pursued him leading to a fatal collision with a van. This marks the…Read more...

Philadelphia police released a statement confirming that a wrongly convicted man who spent almost 30 years in prison before being released last year was killed at a funeral. The statement explained that Christopher Williams, 62, “suffered gunshot wounds to the head” at Mount Peace Cemetery on Friday.Read more...

Colorado Springs Officer Matthew Anderson was one of the two cops accused in the violent beating of Army veteran Dalvin Gadson. In Gadson’s lawsuit, he alleges Anderson violated his constitutional rights by using excessive force, per ABC News. Apparently, this isn’t the first time Anderson has been sued for aggressive…Read more...

This should really be a come to a Jesus moment for all of the raggedy brothas with podcasts (and Drake). On Wednesday, Candace White Lives Matter Owens spoke out in support of Megan Thee Stallion, who is currently in court over allegations that Tory Lanez shot her.Read more...

The hits keep coming for an NFL community that’s experienced tremendous loss in 2022. This time, it’s the death of former Denver Broncos star running back Ronnie Hillman, who succumbed to cancer on Wednesday at 31, an age when some other NFL stars are still on the field.

The family of Jaynisha “Jayla” Williams is seeking justice for a cosmetic surgery procedure that cost the young wife and mother her life.

Things are about to get even crazier on Capitol Hill. Any moment now, the House January 6th Committee is going to release their 800-page report on the insurrection.Read more...

It looks like podcast host Joe Budden has once again landed himself in hot water for inflammatory comments he has made. This time, he decided to open his mouth about Megan Thee Stallion (again)on The Joe Budden Podcast that aired on Sunday (December 18). In a desperate attempt for attention, he made disparaging…Read more...

The holiday season is when many of us gather with our biological and chosen families to celebrate. For some, time with family can be restorative, uplifting, and joyous. However, for some of us in the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) community, being around family…Read more...

With awards season in full swing, Hollywood is looking ahead to the 95th Academy Awards. On Wednesday, the shortlist of possible nominees in several categories was announced and we were thrilled to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever find its way onto some of those lists. The Marvel Studios blockbuster has a realistic…Read more...

As hard as it may be to imagine, Wednesday marked one week since the world found out about the tragic passing of deejay and extraordinarily talented dancer Stephen “tWitch” Boss. While friends, colleagues, and supporters of Boss are no doubt still grappling with the loss, it’s the family he left behind—namely his wife…Read more...

There’s no doubt that Oprah Winfrey knows what’s hot. When she talks, people listen. Any businesses lucky enough to earn a spot on her annual Favorite Things list can be rest assured they will benefit from “the Oprah effect” and see a huge spike in sales.Read more...

Affordable housing. Clean drinking water. Transit and mobility.Read more...

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We got a lot of great TV this year, but unfortunately, we also said goodbye to some of our favorite series. Long-running hits like Black-ish, This is Us and Queen Sugar all ended their runs, while one-hit wonders like Naomi and Queens didn’t make it past 2022. As we prepare to put this year to bed, let’s look back at…Read more...

Dr. David Phillips is suing the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, claiming he was wrongfully terminated, according to CBS17. Phillips claims his First Amendment rights were violated because his termination was the result of a controversial lecture hosted on Winston-Salem State’s campus.

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Not to state the obvious, but 2022 was an undeniably terrible year for abortion rights. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, blowing up more than 50 years of precedent protecting the constitutional right to abortion.Read more...

Whether you’re aware or not, it’s been nearly 40 years since the inception of People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. And while they’ve undoubtedly picked some fitting men over the years, many are left perplexed that time and time again, The Best Man: The Final Chapters star Morris Chestnut has yet to have his…Read more...

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph has had our whole hearts since she made her Broadway debut back in 1981 as Deena Jones in the original Dreamgirls (aka before Beyoncé). So we couldn’t help but get a little choked up during her powerful acceptance speech for the well-deserved Emmy she earned for playing the hilarious Barbara…Read more...

New Roads School of Santa Monica, Ca. prides itself on diversity and challenging students to question their “worldview” and “perspective.” However, while educating a student body that is nearly 50 percent of color, one Black teacher has alleged in a lawsuit that the school is not as progressive as it seems, per The…Read more...

It’s no secret that we at The Root are very excited about Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. The countless social media reactions from Black kids who finally got to see themselves as a Disney princess were heartwarming. To many, this may just be another update of a…Read more...

On Tuesday, the “Queen of Christmas,” a.k.a. Mariah Carey, brought plenty of holiday hope and cheer during her Merry Christmas to All performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

On Tuesday, Elon Musk claimed he would step down as Twitter C.E.O. This comes only two days after he asked his 122 million followers on the app if he should resign. Most of them said yes. However, Musk said he’ll leave only after he finds a suitable replacement who is “foolish enough to take the job.” He added: “After…Read more...