The Root

The parents of Alvin Cole, a teen killed by former Wisconsin police officer Joseph Mensah, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging Mensah used excessive force against Cole, according to The Associated Press. They also claim the Wauwatosa Police Department “embraces and promotes” racism.

Nicki Minaj a.k.a. The Queen of Hip-Hop (her words, not mine) has announced a brand new project for her loyal fanbase (a.k.a. the Barbz) and followers, but it’s unfortunately, not an album. Instead, its an upcoming six-part docuseries detailing her road to success aptly titled Nicki.Read more...

Just when you thought we were completely done talking about Will Smith’s Oscar night slap of Chris Rock, the King Richard star has brought everything back up again with a surprise apology video.

Every time Mary Alice was on the screen or stage, you knew something interesting was about to happen. She never played a boring character, and always emanated a power that will be missed by her peers and fans. On Thursday, the actress passed away at the age of 85.Read more...

Despite Tupac dying nearly 26 years ago, there’s still plenty of debate over his estate. The battle between Sekyiwa Shakur, Tupac’s sister, and Tom Whalley, the trustee of the rapper’s estate has been a lengthy one and on Monday it took another turn.Read more...

Just hours before Beyoncé’s Renaissance album was released to the masses on Friday, “I’m Bossy” singer Kelis hopped on social media to explain her disdain about the use of her 2003 song “Milkshake” for Bey’s song “Energy.”Read more...

On Wednesday, The View co-host Sara Haines shared a statement on-air in which she apologized on behalf of the show for linking a Turning Point USA gathering last weekend to neo-Nazi demonstrators who were present outside the event:Read more...

Franklin Armstrong made history in 1968 when he became the first Black character in Charles Schulz’ popular Peanuts comic strip. The idea to bring a Black friend into the Peanuts gang came from a teacher who thought adding the character would promote racial healing around the time of the assassination of Dr. Martin…Read more...

Oh, the irony. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been consistently standing against drill rap all while his son, Jordan Coleman, is an aspiring artist in the very same genre. As expected, this posed a conflict between the two as one believes the music videos and lyrics contribute to city crime and another has an…Read more...

Saying it had become too much of a distraction for the team, the Arizona Cardinals have removed a controversial “independent study” clause from franchise quarterback Kyler Murray’s contract. But the team can’t easily put the lid on the can of worms it opened by inserting the clause in the first place.

The White House is going to get a little Blacker next month. On September 7, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama will return to the presidential palace to unveil their Official Presidential Portraits to the rest of the country.

When a story begins with a pastor, an armed robbery in the pulpit and $1 million worth of ice, it’s headed to bad places. So of course it wasn’t long before a little digging into the background of the Right Rev. Robbery Aintwright Bishop Lamor Whitehead of Brooklyn’s Leaders of Tomorrow International Churches turned…Read more...

On Thursday, over 400 female TV writers, showrunners and creatives joined together to urge major entertainment studios like Netflix, Disney, Apple, Warner Bros. and more to expand safety protocols for pregnant women in anti-abortion states.Read more...

The RAP Act, or the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, is meant to protect artists, particularly rappers, and the use of lyrics in court proceedings as evidence. On Wednesday, it was introduced in the United States Congress by Congressman Hank Johnson and Jamaal Bowman, according to the office of Rep. Johnson.Read more...

On July 8, Roderick Brooks was shot to death by Sgt. Garrett Hardin of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office after a foot chase. Last weekend, the sheriff’s department in Houston released the body camera footage that displays the sergeant pinning down Brooks and shooting him.Read more...

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The National Park Service has added Shady Rest Golf and Country Club a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Patch.com. The very first Black country club in the whole country will now be considered a historical landmark, as should every historically Black site.

Bonafide legend Tisha Campbell is at a place in her career where she can appreciate the support and love her icon status brings. However, that doesn’t mean she’s done entertaining us. The Martin star spoke with The Root about her new Netflix comedy Uncoupled, her years in the business and what she has planned for her…Read more...

If you’ve ever watched kids on the playground, you know things can get pretty intense. Squabbles can erupt over everything from a turn on the swings to who really is “Not It!”. But for the most part, the beef is squashed without incident, and the kids end up happily eating ice cream a few minutes later. At least…Read more...

If you thought talk about the Will Smith slap incident that took place at the 2022 Oscars back in March was done, think again. The latest person to bring up the now infamous event is none other than the man at the center of it all, Chris Rock.Read more...

As Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushes to unseat the first Black woman chair of the state Democratic Party, Rep. Robin Kelly, suspicions of racism boiled up following a statement by one of her supporters, according to NBC News. It’s not unusual to see racial tensions rise during a political race whether national or…Read more...

The Sesame Place theme park is being sued by another Black family who alleges it’s characters ignored and mistreated their children at the park.

More than a week ago, rapper Kodak Black was arrested in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on drug charges after police officers found nearly $75,000 in cash and a clear bag containing 31 tablets of oxycodone.Read more...

Clarence Thomas, who is an associate Supreme Court Justice, won’t be teaching at George Washington University Law School this fall. The school’s student newspaper reported this development Wednesday.

Coco Gauff has made plenty of history in her young career, and she’s not done yet. During an exhibition match on Sunday, the tennis phenom debuted her new signature tennis shoe from New Balance.

In what can only be described as a waking nightmare, women detained at an Indiana jail allege that they were raped and assaulted by male inmates, who gained access to their pods in exchange for an $1,000 bribe.Read more...

Rapper JayDaYoungan, whose real name was Javorius Tykies Scott, was shot and killed in Bogalusa, police confirmed late Wednesday. One of his close family members, Kenyatta Scott Sr., was also hurt but is in stable condition, Bogalusa Police explained in a statement on Facebook:

White people must not give a damn about their digital footprint, particularly this man from Mississippi who posted a video to Facebook of himself attempting to run over a couple of Black kids riding their bikes. He was also heard using racial slurs toward the kids. According to Tippah County News, he may face a felony…Read more...

Comedian Lil Duval was in a car accident in the Bahamas that resulted in him having to be airlifted to the hospital on Tuesday night.Read more...

Updated at 11:30a.m.ET on 7/28/2022: Just hours before Beyonce’s upcoming Renaissance album is expected to drop, the “Break My Soul” singer has put out a message to fans in anticipation for the drop—and clued us in for what’s still to come.Read more...

Despite mountains of evidence against the disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, his three sisters are standing by him and claiming that racism influenced his 30-year prison sentence on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.Read more...

After months of what seemed like no movement, news broke Wednesday that the Biden administration had actually made a “substantial offer” to Russia for a prisoner exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Rae Lewis-Thornton has been living with HIV for 36 years and AIDS for 26, and she is a living, breathing symbol of strength, courage and determination. Throughout her life, she’s overcome abuse, neglect and a devastating diagnosis to become a political influencer and outspoken activist for HIV and AIDS in our…Read more...

With the 5-4 decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Chief Justice John Roberts was the only conservative judge to side with the liberal judges in not striking down abortion rights. A new CNN investigative report claims that Roberts was pushing for Justice Brett Kavanaugh to change his vote…Read more...

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Updated as of 7/27/2022 at 4:00 p.m.

The Biden administration has officially made an offer to Russia for WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release.

George Floyd suffered as he died. That statement isn’t revelatory, because video of him expiring, slowly, between the knee of a deranged-with-power Derek Chauvin and the boiling hot Minneapolis pavement that singed his skin as he was asphyxiated is still easily viewable more than two years later.

Pennsylvania mortgage company Trident Mortgage Co., owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, used discriminatory practices against Black and Latino homebuyers in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware, ABC News reports. The Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau require…Read more...

On Tuesday, Romay Davis, 102, was recognized for her service at an event at Montgomery City Hall. It comes on the heels of President Joe Biden’s March decision to sign a bill authorizing the Congressional Gold Medal for the unit, which is referred to as the “Six Triple Eight.”Read more...

Brittney Griner testified during her Russian trial on Wednesday, with the WNBA star offering a much clearer picture of how scary those first hours of detainment were.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Big Steppers Tour” is officially underway, and it’s getting multiple reactions from the people who witness it.Read more...

A Shorewood woman was previously charged with a hate crime after being accused (and caught on camera) spitting at a Black teenager during a George Floyd protest, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She insists she didn’t do it and wants to go to trial to plead her case.

Despite not being the latest member to join the MCU, #BridgertonBae Regé-Jean Page is at the center of talks once again about possibly taking on the James Bond/007 mantle thanks in large part to the Russo Brothers.Read more...

Move over Barbie, Ludacris is getting into the toy game in a big way. We recently spoke with the rapper/actor/entrepreneur about his popular Netflix children’s series, Karma’s World. Now, in a partnership with toy giant, Mattel Inc. Ludacris’ media company, Karma’s World Entertainment, has just launched a line of …Read more...

Exactly why did Liz Cambage, the controversial WNBA star and influencer, decide to ditch the league’s Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday in what the team called a “contract divorce”?

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock said he would commit to three televised debates against his Republican opponent Herschel Walker in May. A week ago, Walker said he would be ready to go, but “I don’t just do what they say. I’m running a campaign the way I want to run it.” That’s usually code for being afraid to commit…Read more...

Republican Joe Kent, who is running against U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state in the Aug. 2 primary, has received support from Donald Trump in the past. So it’s no surprise that he’s been connected to other known white nationalists. In addition, his campaign consultant was a member of Proud Boys.Read more...

I don’t mean to get you over-excited on this Wednesday, but in approximately two more days, Beyoncé’s seventh studio album, Renaissance, will be available to the masses. And in a move that I’m hella jealous about, Sony Music has announced a series of official listening/“release” parties for it in anticipation.