The Root

A Missouri man died in a hospital parking lot after his third attempt to get emergency medical treatment, his wife says.

Early Tuesday morning, a corpulent, fur-covered woodchuck waddled out of its rathole burrowed beneath the surface of facts, logic and common sense. As the blinding light of truth radiated on its dust-colored rodent skin, darkening the earth beneath the feckless furball, the assembled audience could see that this long,…Read more...

Way back yonder—in late 2018—I co-founded a book club with the owners of MahoganyBooks, Derrick and Ramunda Young. This was a no-brainer of a collaboration. For one, all of us are avid readers and they own a physical book store that focuses on books by and for Black people. It was an opportunity to bring our two…Read more...

All the brotha was trying to do was get his refrigerator fixed.

If there are two things Black people love to be, it’s the “right one” and the “wrong one.”Read more...

In response to the Trump-encouraged coup attempt in Washington, D.C., last month, Senate Democrats are drafting a resolution condemning white supremacy.Read more...

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knew during the Capitol insurrection that she was a target. She knew this because ever since she took office, white supremacists, both in and outside of Congress, couldn’t keep her name out of their mouths.

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In the immediate aftermath of the officer-related death of George Floyd, countless corporations openly pledged to address racism within their workplaces and poured resources into supporting social justice initiatives throughout the country. And while those ongoing efforts have thus far yielded mixed results, there are …Read more...

It is once again Black History Month—that singular (and short) month of the year when America is called to recognize the tremendous contributions of Black Americans—and all manner of clever branding ensues. We have historian Carter G. Woodson to thank for this annual celebration of our legacy, but as Black Americans…Read more...

If you thought “don’t touch my hair” only applied to Black women, you’re sadly mistaken.Read more...

Atlanta rapper Silento (born Ricky Lamar Hawk), best known for his hit song “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae),” was arrested and charged with murder on Monday in DeKalb County, Ga., in connection with the shooting death of his 34-year-old cousin Frederick Rooks, according to NBC San Diego.

If you listen to Black music and disco (or either/or, really) you know A Taste of Honey. They had a monster hit with “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” a song whose hook you can probably sing in your sleep (which I don’t recommend; people freak out over stuff like that).Read more...

It looks like Ryan Coogler will continue to bring both “di strenf” and di talent of the Black Panther to The Walt Disney Company.Read more...

Welcome to February, the Blackest month of the year! Okay, it may be the shortest month in the year (yes, even when we have a leap year, like we did last year), but there is twice the amount of Black-ass content. Of course, when you work at a Black publication such as the one you’re reading right now, this becomes an…Read more...

Have you ever encountered an act of racism that—even in America, the land of acts of racism—leaves you so confused you’re forced to ask, “But why though?”Read more...

Welp, it’s official! Black History Month is finally here, and I for one couldn’t be happier. Though I’m Black 24/7/365 and don’t ever need a set date to bask in that glorious fact—there’s something about the first day of February that makes me wanna pick out my fro, put salt (NEVER sugar) on my grits, moisturize my…Read more...

It’s officially Black History Month, and all I can say is that this month’s music is starting us off with a bang. The diversity of music produced and released is always astounding, and this week is no exception. Bringing us their A-game are artists who I wished I’d heard of sooner, artists I’ve been obsessed with for…Read more...

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Cops don’t need to be called to every emergency.Read more...

I got some real ass déjà vu right now, and no I’m not talking about the slept on 2006 Tony Scott/Denzel Washington banger. I honestly wish I was though, as that would be a lot more fun than talking about how Black people are still receiving coronavirus vaccinations at a lower rate than white people.

In case you’d somehow missed it, we’re now in Black History Month—and yes, still in a panny. For most of us, it’s now been almost a year spent largely on lockdown, and we’ve all had to pivot repeatedly to adapt. For some of us, the pivot has been literal; for many fitness enthusiasts, Peloton has been a blessing,…Read more...

Finally!

After 101 years, the American Civil Liberties Union has elected the first Black person to ever serve as the organization’s president.

This year, many shows will focus on work by Black female artists. The video above features six solo exhibitions debuting at museums across the country, and each represents a significant milestone for the artist.Read more...

The ask may be 15 percent, but the number of retailers joining Aurora James’ 15 Percent Pledge keeps growing, with names like Sephora, West Elm and Macy’s agreeing to allocate a minimum of 15 percent of their offerings and efforts to Black-owned brands, designers and staff members—a move that has prompted more than a…Read more...

An investigation is underway after police in Rochester, New York pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old Black girl.Read more...

There is currently a heated debate going on between Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) over when to return to in-person learning. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot favors teachers returning sooner rather than later as she requested in-person learning to restart this week.Read more...

Guess who’s back in the *CENSORED* house with some new awards for the African American crowd!!!?? If you said, it’s gotta be the shoes, then you’re wrong. It’s the Ro-Ro-The Root, bringing back our Blackest Awards for the second time. That makes if official, we can call it an annual award now. We want to thank you for…Read more...

They were six years in power.

When sports heads hear the term “drafted,” we typically think of the moment when amateur athletes transition from making their coaches and colleges millions of dollars to when they can finally see that kind of money themselves. But as part of its Black History Month initiative, Black-owned finance app Goalsetter is…Read more...

There comes a time in every superhero’s life when the bad guys are forced to ban together to try and bring down the powerful one.

Last week, The Root reported that a Black high school student was body-slammed and knocked unconscious by a school resource officer at Liberty High School in Kissimmee, Fla. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Department said the officer was trying to stop a fight between her and another student, but video footage of the…Read more...

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In the hot and sweaty summer of 1969, the well-known music festival known as Woodstock happened in Bethel, New York. Everyone knew its name. One hundred miles away, there was another festival occurring that same summer with a little more seasoning...and a little more soul. And it was free to attend!Read more...

After spending almost my entire Sunday hiking—if you live in Los Angeles and have about eight hours of your life to kill, definitely check out the Bridge to Nowhere—I did what any sensible Black man would do: I ordered some chicken wings and watched basketball.Read more...

It’s February again, and you know what that means—it’s Black History Month. Well, here at VSB, we like to celebrate Blackness with various monthlong series. We’ve done 28 Days of Literary Blackness (2019), 30 Days of Musical Blackness (2019) and 30 Days of Music Video Blackness (2020). This year—2021—we’re bringing…Read more...

We don’t do enough for Black History Month. I think it should be a high celebration. It’s Negro Ramadan. It’s the extended remix of Kwanzaa. It’s like August for white people (Wait, you didn’t know that August was white people’s favorite month? Look it up.)

Some good will follow all the unrest and sadness that took place in 2020. Part of that unrest were the many protests against racist violence, which included the long-overdue downing of several Confederate statues and monuments across the country. Last year was also characterized by sadness for the many lives lost,…Read more...

It’s frequently said that modern video technology has helped expose the truth of the racism in America that Black people have long said is endemic, especially in institutions like policing.Read more...

Former President Donald Trump is having a real rough start to the year. A little over a week after his supporters led a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 that he incited, Trump earned the ignoble distinction of being the only president in history to be impeached twice.Read more...

You may have gotten wind of some allegations that have been swirling across the internet about Atlanta-based rapper T.I. (whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr.) and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris.

The Black Lives Matter movement, which has proven itself a defining force for human rights advocacy in our time, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s beyond clear that Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene does not belong in Congress, as information continues to emerge that some of her favorite past-times are haranguing people and inciting violence.

How racist do you have to be to tell a widow you won’t bury her Black husband because a decades-old law says the cemetery is whites only? A Louisiana woman said she met someone who was just that racist and was shocked at how indifferent that person was in denying her late husband the right to be laid to rest in a…Read more...

Happy Friday, folks! I hope this week wasn’t too bad for you. Even it was, at least you got the weekend ahead of you and some good gaming to look forward to. This week’s sales are basically all retro games, so today’s list will be all bangers from the past.

Trigger Warning: This article contains graphic details of alleged rice and beans.

It should come as no surprise, but the Louisville Metro Police Department is kind of the worst. A 150-page report commissioned by city officials in the wake of Breonna Taylor’s death has found that the department is plagued with a multitude of problems and is widely distrusted by communities of color.

Another day has brought the unfolding of yet another aspect of the multi-layered Capitol insurrection story.

Hey, January! I see you got your overstaying-your-welcome outfit on like you always do! Yes, y’all, we are in the last days of January 2021 and it went by at a snail’s pace, as per usual. Shit, this past week felt like three months, at the very least. Because I missed you last Friday, I have a bunch of trailers to get…Read more...

Earlier this week I went on a lengthy spiel about how ridiculously overrated loyalty in sports is. It’s been proven time and time again that no amount of blood, sweat, and tears poured into a professional franchise will deter the powers that be from getting rid of your ass once they no longer view you as a desirable…Read more...