When Clarence Thomas wasn’t working as a mute-ass puppet for former Justice Antonin Scalia, he literally was a real-life mute who was apparently attempting to break the Guinness record for being the Black man on the highest court who had absolutely nothing to say about anything.

After months of teasing, a steamy onstage kiss, a pair of ripped pants, pole-dancing to hell, a naked shower dance scene, a lawsuit with Nike over satanic shoes, and a very elaborate pregnancy-themed PR roll-out, Lil Nas X’s debut album, Montero, is finally here.Read more...

I think we need to be more stingy about who we give titles to.

While I might be terrible at more things than a scientific calculator can count, the one thing I’m exceptional at is giving gifts. My mother once taught me many moons ago that creating moments for our loved ones is always better than merely lavishing them with material possessions, so I always make it a point to go…Read more...

Amid a bevy of sexual assault allegations, T.I. and Tiny Harris have managed to avoid at least one charge in Los Angeles because the statute of limitations having expired.Read more...

How many Republicans do you think are looking out of the office windows doing the Birdman hand rub upon learning that some 10,000 mostly Haitian migrants have found refuge under a border bridge in South Texas awaiting processing? The countdown has already begun as to how long before this is all the Biden…Read more...

Track and field legend Usain Bolt knows a thing or two about allowing his body of work to speak for itself, and in a recent interview with the New York Post, he expressed his desire to see the same from embattled American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.Read more...

All the niggas in niggadom, stand up!Read more...

Can we ever just leave a tender moment alone? Apparently not, as news in the cinematic streets is that yet another of our nostalgic faves is one step closer to getting its long-rumored reboot.Read more...

Former president and current bag of orange extract Donald Trump is a world class liar. We know that. He’s an Olympic-level liar. He’s the Michael Jordan of lying. Fine, he’s the LeBron James of lying. He’s Wilt Chamberlain.

What more is there to say about Muhammad Ali? The legendary boxer and activist has been the subject of countless books, documentaries and movies, including Ali, starring Will Smith in the Oscar-nominated title role. Ali was larger than life, a hero and an icon. But a new four-part documentary by Ken Burns, simply…Read more...

“In order for Morrison to take you seriously...you needed to demonstrate that language was a skill you had, that Black culture was known to you and respected by you.” — novelist A.J. Verdelle on Toni MorrisonRead more...

Wendy, how you really doing??Read more...

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis cop who was convicted in the murder of George Floyd, was in court again on Thursday, this time to plead not guilty to violating the rights of a Black teenager during an arrest that was strikingly similar to the Floyd case.

If you are Black and active on social media, no doubt you’re all too familiar with its social hierarchies (looking at you, Black Twitter). Beyond the blue checks and heavily followed “micro-celebs” are also legions of fandoms, thought leaders, influencers and woke police who create the echo chambers so many of us…Read more...

In an attempt to keep press about their upcoming show The Activist from going from worse to WORSER (yes, we know that’s not a real word, but let’s roll with it), CBS has announced the series will be getting the documentary treatment instead of airing as a competition series as originally planned.Read more...

You know when would be a good time to stop doubling down on some unmitigated (and easily disproven) mess? The minute you have to pull out Tucker Carlson in your defense, because—girl, no. Nevertheless, that’s what Nicki Minaj did on Wednesday, following mass pushback to her online claims that the COVID vaccine had…Read more...

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.