The Root

Before you settle into your federally mandated day of action (or day of chillin,' if that's your groove), allow me to bestow upon you an inconvenient truth: The Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday is one of the worst things that happened to the man's legacy.Read more...

An Alaska Airlines flight attendant says she was wrongfully fired" after participating in a social media challenge and posting the video online. However, she has started a GoFundMe earlier this month after losing her job-and it has social media in an uproar.Read more...

Donald Trump's inauguration will make some Americans swell with pride, but millions of African Americans will have a hard time, which is why we decided to look back to better days. On Jan. 20, 2009, Barack Obama made history when he was sworn in as the first Black president of the United States. Alongside his wife...Read more...

Earlier this week, Vice President Kamala Harris did not extend a formal invitation for a formal sit down and tour of the Naval Observatory to incoming Vice President JD Vance. It's part of traditional transitional activities that have occurred between outgoing and incoming administrations.Read more...

If you were around in the 1990s, you've probably heard of Kris Kross, the pint-sized rap group that had everyone wearing their clothes backwards and moving to their mega hit Jump."Read more...

This Monday (Jan. 20), President-elect Donald Trump will celebrate the inauguration of his second (and presumably last, if he doesn't nuke the Constitution) presidential term. Thereafter will be the a parade celebrating Trump's win, during which Mississippi Valley State University (*sigh*) will march.Read more...

On Friday evening, TikTok livestreamer and former CNN anchor Don Lemon brought up an idea that a lot of us are discussing among ourselves: That Dems need to go hard, real hard. He was talking to the show's head writer, Peter Rothpletz, whose article in The Guardian about Democrats suggests that to combat the...Read more...

Vice President Kamala Harris may be vacating her role on Jan. 20, but that doesn't mean she has to participate in every part of the political transition. CBS News has reported that Harris is refusing to fully accommodate her successor JD Vance - and it feels purposely petty. - Candace McDuffie Read MoreRead more...

From the moment he stepped on to the red carpet at the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King," actor Aaron Pierre has had the internet under the spell of his piercing green eyes. People can't stop gushing about the 30-year-old Brit, who voices the film's main character, dubbing him and his beautiful family a group of...Read more...

That Drake filed an official defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the company of spreading the false narrative that he is a pedophile through Kendrick Lamar's now-legendary diss track, Not Like Us" has annoyed many in the Hip-Hop community.Read more...

Tiktok's famous user Keith Lee built his platform by doing honest food reviews from local restaurants in Las Vegas and that resulted in a positive uptick for sales and business prospects for most of the locations. Eventually his reviews prompted other businesses to reach out and he and his family began touring all...Read more...

Word on the street is that Snoop Dogg will be performing at the inaugural Crypto Ball,' hosted by Trump's nominated AI and Crypto Czar" David Sacks. The Ball is one of many parties meant to celebrate the incoming administration, so Black folks are not happy with homeboy.Read more...

The year 2025 may prove to be a fruitful one for Wendy Williams if petitions and online support for her freedom yield positive results.Read more...

The legendary rappers who helped grow the genre are now at the age where they have grown children who are trying to cement their own legacies. We've often watched these children grow up and wondered what will they do with their lives: Some of their children have followed in their parent's footsteps and pursued music...Read more...

Witnessing another situation where a white man hems up a Black man in what could've been a fatal restraint was not how we looked forward to kicking off 2025. But, alas.... a Black North Carolina man was filmed in a disturbing video being subject to what appeared to be vigilante violence. - Kalyn Womack Read MoreRead more...

Nearly two months after his death, authorities in Georgia have more information about what killed a 31-year-old local social media content creator. Loved ones found Jiare Schneider, who was known to his followers as @big_homie_tootall on TikTok, dead in the woods a week and a half after reporting him missing. And now...Read more...

If you thought the portal of hate and mess Katt Williams opened in 2024 was closed at the turn of a new year, think again. In fact, it actually just might get re-opened thanks to Jamie Foxx. We'll explain.Read more...

From the moment he stepped on to the red carpet at the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King," actor Aaron Pierre has had the internet under the spell of his piercing green eyes. People can't stop gushing about the 30-year-old Brit, who voices the film's main character, dubbing him and his beautiful family a group of...Read more...

Earlier this week, we told you the heartbreaking story of an Arkansas woman mourning the loss of her wheelchair-bound relatives - father, Anthony Mitchell, and step-brother Justin Mitchell - who were killed in the Eaton Fire in Southern California. Now, Anthony's son Jordan Mitchell, who lived with and cared for his...Read more...

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Keke Palmer has always been a hoot and a holler but one of her latest interviews might've just cemented her in the funny hall of fame forever. And if you don't believe us-just wait until you see it for yourself.Read more...

The cries to free Wendy Williams are growing louder as the beloved talk show host's interviews with Don Lemon and Charlamagne Tha God are making the rounds on social media. In a January 16 post captioned, Sabrina E. Morrissey is taking advantage of Wendy Williams. She does not have her freedom. This interview proves...Read more...

While O'Shea Jackson Jr. and rapper Wale might be huge wrestling fans, they're not keen on one particular WWE Hall of Famer: Hulk Hogan. In fact, they're not really feeling him at all and now we know exactly why.Read more...

While many Los Angeles residents are still dealing with the effects of the wildfires, Kid Cudi has to deal with an intruder who not only burglarized his mansion but also made himself at home in it. Fortunately for him, he wasn't there to witness it.Read more...

Today Show" host Sheinelle Jones' absence from viewer's TV screens has caused quite the stir as of late. But not to worry-there's a simple, albeit somewhat concerning explanation for it all.Read more...

We already can see that Donald Trump's impending presidency will be a tumultuous one that could potentially put people of color and marginalized groups in danger of further persecution. Aside from attacks on the Haitian population and bias claims against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has made a slew of promises...Read more...

Cardi B and Offset's relationship just got a lot messier after the WAP" rapper accused her ex-husband of stealing from her with the help of his mother. On Tuesday, Cardi went to X Spaces to express frustrations she's had with Offset, with whom she's had three kids.Read more...

Rapper and actor Method Man has reportedly been involved in a shocking assault. According to The New York Post, law enforcement officials confirmed that the incident took place at Crunch Fitness gym on Staten Island.Read more...

In the year of our Lord 2025, seeing a Black man traveling with his white wife shouldn't even make you bat an eye. But believe it or not, some people still aren't ok with interracial relationships. For that reason, what was supposed to be a romantic honeymoon getaway for an Arizona couple went all the way wrong. Now,...Read more...

The 2024 Lifetime documentary, Where is Wendy Williams?" gave fans a glimpse inside Wendy Williams' life living under the care of a court-appointed guardian since she stepped away from her purple chair in 2022. But since that two-part series aired, it's been a while since we've heard from the straight-talking talk...Read more...

Lil Kim may not be in the news often but all that changed earlier this week she put out a statement to those affected by the ongoing devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. But it's what asked for in the message that has folks somewhat coming for the Get Money" rapper in a hilarious way.Read more...

Bo Jackson has given up a stunning amount in a case against his niece and nephew, whom he said tried to extort him. The former professional football and baseball player claimed that they threatened him as well.Read more...

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It's almost been a year since Kendrick Lamar and Drake engaged in their legendary rap battle. But the obvious loser in the situation seems to keep the events of the beef alive by revisiting them in a new lawsuit.Read more...

Vice President Kamala Harris may be vacating her role on Jan. 20, but that doesn't mean she has to participate in every part of the political transition. CBS News has reported that Harris is refusing to fully accommodate her successor JD Vance - and it feels purposely petty.Read more...

It's no secret that Wendy Williams has been a hot topic for the last few years after her famous daytime talk show went off the air and reports about her failing health, divorce, and mental state began to spread. But now, she's finally breaking her silence and speaking out about it all once and for all.Read more...

Mela Restaurant and Lounge, located just outside of Atlanta, has been accused of using an outrageously offensive flyer to promote an event celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. Not only is King featured in the image, but civil rights icon Rosa Parks makes an appearance as well...and it's sexually suggestive.Read more...

In her eight years in the White House, Michelle Obama was an ideal First Lady. She was always gracious and kind, even when she wasn't shown that same grace in return. We'll always remember her encouraging her fellow Americans to go high when others inevitably go low. But now that she's a private citizen, Mrs. Obama is...Read more...

A California man who worked tirelessly to help homeless people get back on their feet now finds himself trying to rebuild after the LA-area wildfires destroyed his home along with many of his most precious memories. Now he's asking for help to preserve what he and his family worked so hard to build.

While Usher has gone viral before for seductively feeding cherries to random women during various stops of his Past, Present, Future Tour," one of his more recent exchanges is getting people up in arms. And we think we know why.Read more...

By Sunday, January 19, TikTok will likely be banned in the U.S. Although the app will still be available for users who have it downloaded on their mobile devices, it won't be found on app stores to download, meaning it can no longer be updated. The app has changed the lives of many Black Americans and have proved to...Read more...

White celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian, James Woods and Sarah Michelle Gellar have lashed out against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass because of the Palisades fire. However, the Black people who were affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena haven't garnered nearly as much media attention.Read more...

Some of our posts include links to retailers. If you buy something from clicking on one, G/O Media may earn a commission. Because editorial staff is independent of commerce, affiliate linking does not influence our editorial content.In a recent interview with Texas State Representative Gene Wu, the politician talked about the strained relationship between Asian and Black Americans. Amidst his commentary, he made a weighty remark about how Asian Americans have gained from the backs of Black Americans.Read more...

The new year got off to a great start for a woman who literally hit the jackpot at a South Carolina gas station. According to WBTV, the woman purchased a Giant Jumbo Bucks scratch-off lottery ticket on January 2 at a RunX gas station in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and was blown away when she realized she was about to...Read more...

TikTok may be on its way to a ban in the United States, but one of it's biggest stars, Lisa Beasley, is showing no signs of going anywhere. The popular social media star posted her biggest video yet over the weekend, swapping out her fan-favorite character of Corporate Erin" for Sheryl Lee Ralph, who, as we reported, ...Read more...

With the TikTok ban imminent, Meek Mill offers to come to the rescue. However, it appears nobody is taking the Philadelphia rapper seriously.Read more...

I refrained from immediately writing about the image of President Obama speaking to Trump in a relaxed, almost playful manner at President Carter's funeral. But the moment stuck with me. It was triggering. As a Black man, I couldn't reconcile how comfortable the two seemed, given the depths of alienation, racism, and...Read more...

Meagan Good is known for her iconic movie roles, but when it's time to go home, the actress told EBONY Magazine she finds solace in her LA sanctuary." - Phenix S HalleyRead more...

One would think the last piece of evidence Sean Diddy" Combs would want brought before the court were the videos of his so-called freak offs." However, new court documents reveal he thinks they might actually help him. But, why?Read more...