The Root

In August 2019, Elijah McClain, 23, was killed after he was put in a chokehold by police and injected with a sedative by paramedics. His crime: Being a Black man in Aurora, Colo.

As with almost any time a person speaks out after many years and accuses someone—particularly a prominent someone—of abuse (verbal, physical, sexual or otherwise), a question that seems to always creep up is: Why are they just now talking? Why didn’t they say something sooner? In essence, if that situation was as…Read more...

Disgraced former U.S. Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is currently serving up to 175 years in prison for sexual abuse and assaults upon hundreds of girls and women placed in his care. But as Simone Biles told Congress: “The scars of this horrific abuse continue to live with all of us.”Read more...

White people love to support losers. Don’t believe me? Just look at those who get dressed up to reenact the Civil War. How about those who root for the Washington Football Team? Donald Trump supporters?

We live in a day and age in which NBA players might do the damn thing on the court, but opt to stay just as busy off of it. From tech partnerships to voting rights initiatives and everything else in between, it’s a beautiful time to be Black, passionate, and gifted.Read more...

The death of beloved actor Michael K. Williams continues to rock Hollywood and beyond, with more and more tributes from fans, followers and fellow artists pouring in by the day.Read more...

In the past year, the calls to end fatal encounters with law enforcement have only gotten louder. Many of the physical restraints and apprehension tactics that result in the unnecessary deaths of Black people are legally protected and allow officers to get away with taking lives. Now, a new directive attempts to cap…Read more...

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned the third-degree murder conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor, who shot and ​​killed Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual American and Australian citizen, in 2017.Read more...

Whether you love them, hate them or wonder what all the fuss about, the Sussex effect isn’t fading anytime soon. On Wednesday, Prince Harry (who turns 37 today) and Meghan were called ‘icons’ as they were announced as one of seven covers celebrating the 2021 TIME100. The other six covers feature Simone Biles, Kate…Read more...

Marie Claire’s October cover star may have stunted on the steps of the Met Gala wearing Dior Haute Couture on Monday night, but on normal school nights, she’s a senior at Harvard, double majoring in social studies and African American studies with “straight A semesters.” That’s just part of the multifaceted magic of…Read more...

Professional attention-getter Nicki Minaj once again got what she came for on Monday when she attempted to explain her absence from the Met Gala by casting doubt on the COVID vaccinations required to attend the event. As The Root reported Tuesday, as part of her excuse, the “Anaconda” rapper claimed her cousin in…Read more...

Does the name Eric Bieniemy ring a bell? It should.Read more...

CBS new competition show,The Activist—or America’s Next Top Activist, as it’s hilariously been dubbed online—has been the subject of justifiable critique and concern since the platform made the announcement last week.Read more...

One of the fun parts about parenting is seeing your kids “get” something. From reading to tying shoes to...whatever, that look they get in their eyes once they realize that they can do something is inspirational. And sometimes, our kids know well before we do that they’re ready to do stuff. We’re still worrying about…Read more...

On Tuesday, day 16 of the federal sex trafficking trial against disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, a Brooklyn judge granted prosecutors the ability to provide additional audio and video evidence that allegedly shows Kelly verbally and physically assaulting multiple accusers.

On Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom defeated the recall intended to remove him from office.Read more...

The Met Gala’s ivory-colored carpet was filled with fashion statements on Monday night—while just outside its velvet ropes on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, a protest was waged to defund the police. Predictably, arrests were made, as cries of “Black Lives Matter” maybe, just maybe reached the ears of New York City mayor…Read more...

With the Houston Rockets fully embracing a rebuild, and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall looking to play for a contender, a divorce between the two sides seemed inevitable. So with training camp set to begin at the end of the month, now comes the news that the Rockets will keep Wall on the bench indefinitely until…Read more...

The city of Philadelphia will pay $2 million to Rickia Young, a Black woman who was pulled from her car then beaten by officers after she unknowingly drove into a protest over the police shooting death of Walter Wallace Jr. City officials made a statement on Monday announcing the settlement.Read more...

“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” The quote is famously from the now-classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, but it also served as part of an uber-romantic announcement made by award-winning actress Uzo Aduba on…Read more...

I remember the day I cut my hair and went natural.Read more...

One question I get all the damn time—aside from, “Nigga, you ate all them crab legs?!”—is how in the hell did I become a fan of both the Orlando Magic and Denver Broncos. Geography isn’t exactly my ministry, but I can completely understand how my allegiance to each of these franchises is confusing as shit considering…Read more...

“Who all gon’ be there?” is typically the refrain when a last-minute invite comes our way. But when our inboxes were recently hit with an invite to Pyer Moss’ post-Met Gala fête, all we could do was lowkey kick ourselves (hard) for choosing to enjoy this New York Fashion Week from afar *shakes fist at the Delta…Read more...

Here at The Root, we previously reported that former NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos had contracted COVID-19. He revealed his diagnosis on Instagram back on Aug. 27, but provided an update on his condition from an ICU hospital bed last week. Suffice to say, it was deeply concerning.

When 82,745 fans packed into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday to watch Auburn University take on historically Black Alabama State University, I was there.Read more...

God had been walking for days when his feet gave out. He was delirious and dehydrated. His sandals had been worn thin. His clothes were torn to shreds. The sun was unrelenting. He looked for miles and all he could see was dirt. He collapsed in a sweaty pile on the punishing gravel and vomited.

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and three other decorated gymnasts are scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding the FBI’s response to sexual assault allegations against former USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar.Read more...

On Monday night, celebs and high-profiles stars across various industries gathered on the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for one of the biggest, grandest nights in fashion: The Met Gala.Read more...

The birth of my son was cool and all, but did y’all see that game last night?!?!?!!

On Monday, day 15 of the federal sex trafficking trial of Robert Sylvester Kelly—known to most as R. Kelly—a tenth accuser took the stand in Brooklyn federal court.Read more...

Did you watch? If you are a lover of fashion—or just opulence and extra-ness, in general—no doubt you spent Monday night with your eyes trained on the step of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, as, after a 17-month delay, the Met Gala resumed its regular extravagance during New York Fashion Week, …Read more...

In the case that turned the world’s eyes (and cameras) onto the Black Lives Matter movement, four former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights will be arraigned in federal court.Read more...

President Joe Biden did an event in Idaho Monday, so of course that means he made up some kind of connection to the state and got called out and they need to keep Weekend at Biden’s off the mic.

Must be Savage x Fenty on the brain!Read more...

When it comes to the Republican party, conservative views and outrageous headline-making skills are all you need to get on a ballot. Earlier this year, Kansas state Rep. Mark Samsel was responsible for one of their best (or worst) headlines yet, after he allegedly kneed a student in the groin and asked students about…Read more...

On Sunday night, some of the music industry’s finest—and more than a few its faves—gathered to celebrate a year of popular music’s hits at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. However, while there were plenty of female artists to be seen on the red carpet, presenting and performing onstage, and even hosting the evening’s…Read more...

Experiencing FOMO about the Met Gala happening tonight? Will you, like me, be sitting in your pajamas watching celebrities’ Instagram stories about their red carpet glam? Never fear, Keke Palmer and Ilana Glazer will be hosting a livestream of the Met Gala on Vogue platforms, according to People. For the first time…Read more...

Capitol Police–who have been on high alert since the mayonnaise-fiasco on Jan. 6 in which terrorists stormed the Capitol threatening to kill Congress members–have arrested a California man with multiple knives in his swastika-painted truck near the Democratic National Committee headquarters Monday morning.

I already had zero interest in watching crumbling relics Vítor Belfort and Oscar De La Hoya exchange blows in the squared circle for Triller’s latest celebrity boxing cash grab, but when De La Hoya contracted COVID-19 and was forced to bow out, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when Evander Holyfield—the same…Read more...

It never fails to amaze me how bold and audacious racists can be with their attacks, especially now with such a close eye on the Karens and Kyles (did we decide on a racist white guy name yet?) of the American public.Read more...

Hello? Yes, Operator? SZA dropped a new track, Kendrick is back (again?) and Chlöe is making us all clutch our pearls saying, “Lord, have mercy!” with each booty thrown in her debut solo music video.

Y’all, we know—it’s been a long year and a half since COVID-19 reached our shores and forever changed our world. In the past 18 months, we have sheltered-in-place, grieved over lost friends, family and relationships, found new hobbies, beat our heads against the wall in frustration over not being able to freely enjoy…Read more...

The number of right-wing extremists being outed for their participation in the mob that terrorized the Capitol on Jan. 6 has been growing, and the biggest worry for some has been how many inside the Capitol knew ahead of time—especially those tasked with protecting it.Read more...

Though the 73rd Primetime Emmys are still some days away, those looking to secure a win got a little taste of the action this weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys.Read more...

Michael K. Williams was a chronicler of Black humanity who took on the sacred work of depicting our interior lives. In many ways, to be a Black artist means to be an archivist of our existence while many are still actively caping for our obliteration. Deftly caressing the corners of our sensations, Williams made of…Read more...

The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards went off without a hitch on Sunday night! While most of us are starting to retreat back inside for the forthcoming fall season, the VMAs were large and in charge outside, airing live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially back in business. Let’s get to it.Read more...

The fourth week of R. Kelly’s New York criminal trial—the first of several scheduled across numerous states, including Kelly’s native Illinois as well as Minnesota, brought new and disturbing allegations to the fore, as witness testimonies bolstered the prosecution’s case against Kelly for multiple charges, including…Read more...

Turns out that people who live in states most likely to have sundown towns and high rates of meth addiction also have higher rates of COVID-19 cases because they don’t want no stupid face condoms interfering with their civil liberties.

A recently-filed lawsuit could result in the removal of a Confederate statue that has taken up space in the mostly-Black city of Tuskegee, Ala. for over 100 years.