The Root

The city of Chicagohas found itself in the middle of a political scandal after the Department of Justice announced a new investigation into the city's mayor. Brandon Johnson has served as Chicago's mayor for almost two years, and now, his job is in jeopardy after one interview caught the attention of the federal...Read more...

The internet just can't get enough of celebrity look-alikes, and neither can we! On TikTok, celebrity doppelgangers continue to grow their platform for making content impersonating some of our favorite stars. So now, The Root is diving deep into their world and exploring if they actually look like the celebs they...Read more...

While social media is placing bets on which escaped inmate will be captured last, or never, authorities are investigating just how 10 men successfully broke out of a New Orleans jail. According to reports, the men, including four who are charged with second-degree murder and remain on the run, had some assistance.Read more...

When she started working on UNTOLD: The Fall of Favre," a new Netflix documentary that follows some of the most disgraceful parts of NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre's career, director Rebecca Gitlitz told The Guardian that she wanted to explore whether some people are above the law.Read more...

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore just pulled the plug on a state-approved bill to create a commission to study and recommend reparations for the slavery and discrimination that's taken place in America. Needless to say, Black folks are big mad.Read more...

The latest bombshell witness to take the stand is David James, the former personal assistant to Sean Diddy" Combs who is currently on trial for federal sex crimes. As you can expect, riding so closely with Combs exposed the man to a slew of things- so much so, he broke down in tears on the stand.Read more...

A Memphis graduate is fighting for her life after a celebratory trip took a horrifying turn. Hannah Smith graduated summa cum laude on May 3 from Miles College located in Alabama. She and a friend traveled to the Bahamas to celebrate, then the unthinkable happened.Read more...

While Denzel Washington may be enjoying his time overseas promoting his forthcoming film, Highest to Lowest" at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, one moment almost threatened his joy. And we've got the footage to prove it!Read more...

Since its inception in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has been the place to celebrate the best in film from all over the world. Those lucky enough to score an invite are expected to show up and show out in their finest evening wear (think: tuxedos and evening gowns). But in recent years, some of the outfits that have...Read more...

When former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard took the stand this week against Sean Diddy" Combs, she did not hold back in the descriptions of the horrors she says she witnessed. Based on one alleged incident she cited, she recalled the celebrities who was allegedly present during an incident she says occurred between...Read more...

The Black social media-verse has been ablaze with reaction to the burning down of Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, La. Officials believe the cause of the 160-year-old structure's destruction may have been electrical. But it is a place of history, and what was lost despite what it represented was a window into the...Read more...

This conversation has been a long time coming. We didn't have it when we found out what was going on with Bill Cosby. The discussion still didn't happen when the news broke about R. Kelly. With Diddy's every embarrassing - and perhaps illegal - move being laid out to the world in court...maybe it's a good time to talk...Read more...

You've likely seen the video of a Black student twerking across the graduation stage to the dismay of an administrator. Welcome to Black graduation season, where Black joy is on display as a new generation celebrates academic achievements. Viral videos of Black graduates dancing, strolling and celebrating have sparked...Read more...

There's a reason why Kandi Burruss' list of accomplishments is way too long to list here. The GRAMMY award-winning singer and songwriter is also a bad-ass businesswoman, with a jaw-dropping net worth of 30 million dollars. Her focus and determination have helped her launch successful ventures in cosmetics, clothing...Read more...

South Africa's president won't offer refugee status and a chartered airplane to Black Americans when he visits the White House on Wednesday. But if he uses the same standards Donald Trump used in bringing a plane load of white Afrikaners to the United States last week, he should.Read more...

Since May 15, when the news broke of a fire which burned Nottoway Plantation, the largest antebellum plantation in the South, to the ground, Black folks have been sharing their excitement all across social media. For people whose ancestors endured slavery, it's not hard to wonder why they would rejoice in the news of...Read more...

Monday kicked off the federal sex crime trial against Sean Diddy" Combs with some fiery testimonies that revealed a number of horrendous details regarding the rapper's relationship to Casandra Cassie" Ventura. Their statements leave us wondering, who didn't witness the domestic abuse?Read more...

It has undoubtedly been a challenging year for Black people in America. Though the iconic leaders of the past are no longer with us, we can readily surmise their perspectives on contemporary issues. For example, Malcolm X's incisive critiques of racism and political hypocrisy resonate powerfully with the Trump era....Read more...

The former best friend of Casandra Cassie" Ventura took the stand this week to testify against Sean Diddy" Combs in his ongoing federal sex crime trial. Ventura previously testified that the friendship went to shambles after Combs allegedly assaulted her friend. However, there's much, much more crazy s- that just...Read more...

It seems some of hip-hop's most notable rappers are once again showing us exactly where they stand-and this time, it's in support of Tory Lanez. And trust us when we tell you...it's a disappointing sight to see.Read more...

Summer is right around the corner, which means one thing for music fans: concert season is back again. Every summer, music's biggest acts take to arenas and stadiums across the world, bringing people together to celebrate and sing along to their favorite artists.Read more...

Times are getting tough for Hip-Hop mogul Sean Diddy" Combs. In the latest of the ongoing Puff Daddy struggles, he just put his $61.5 million home up for sale, with sources close to him saying this comes as no surprise."

A North Carolina man is still recovering after a fight with a wild animal almost cost him his life. Now, James Pulliam is telling the unbelievable true story of how he survived the brutal attack.Read more...

Chicken wasn't the only thing getting served in a Charlotte Popeye's - the manager added some hot bullets to the two-fist combo. What started as a kitchen squabble turned into a full-blown shootout, and the restaurant manager is now facing some serious charges.Read more...

Months have passed since Beyonce and other celebrities endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for president. But now, in a late night, President Donald Trump revealed major plans for revenge aimed at some major celebrities. And as expected, many people- especially Black folks- are giving side eyes.Read more...

With Donald Trump 2.0 in the White House, Black people are already thinking about how his policies will impact our communities. We've already seen a rise in book bans and challenges across the country and attempts to revise the Black history curriculum to remove anything that might make white students feel guilt,...Read more...

What business does a 35-year-old woman have cussing out a Black middle schooler? This North Carolina Karen's whole racist tirade got caught on video. Her behavior was so nasty, the authorities had to get involved.Read more...

When it comes to iconic voices in Black history, few resonate louder-or hit harder-than Malcolm X. Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, the civil rights legend would've turned 100 this year, but his words remain as sharp, fearless, and relevant as ever.Read more...

What was meant to be a relaxing solo camping trip became a fight for survival for one Georgia woman after her three-day excursion turned into a nearly three-week test of her tenacity in the California mountains. Tiffany Slaton's parents reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for nine days.Read more...

We know the story of civil rights leader Malcolm X, but history classes never teach us about how his legacy continued through his children. X married Dr. Betty Shabazz in 1958, and together, they gave birth to six daughters. After he was killed at age 39, the Shabazz women have sued the NYPD, FBI, and CIA over his...Read more...

The next bombshell witness to testify against Sean Diddy" Combs was his former music protege, Dawn Richard. She previously stated in a lawsuit that she witnessed the rapper physically abuse his ex-girlfriend Casandra Cassie" Ventura. However, the details she gave the jury will truly stun you.Read more...

Welp... It's happening. After concerns that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are being attacked by President Donald Trump's MAGA agenda, one of the most prestigious HBCUs in the deep South has selected a new president with direct ties to the MAGA movement.Read more...

While President Joe Biden may no longer be running the country, it's not stopping him from no longer being the topic of discussion. And thanks to a truly shocking health announcement he gave over the weekend, Black folks everywhere are feeling some type of way about it.Read more...

When news broke that Pope Leo XIV had Black and Creole ancestry, the internet practically collapsed. How could this white man be so deeply woven into the American south? But Black folks know the history of white passing" is more common than you think.Read more...

Beyonce's youngest daughter, Rumi, has been having a time teasing her older sister, Blue Ivy, on stage, as younger sisters do. The Beyhive has been hyping the 7-year-old up since her night one appearance, and even if some of her excitement has calmed since that night (per Blue's direction, as many fans believe), she...Read more...

You might have heard a surprising trend has emerged on TikTok where Gingers" White redheaded are finding real kinship with Black folks, sparked by a Black woman's humorous assertion that All Gingers are Black." This joke resonated deeply, leading emotional redheads to share experiences of white-on-white racism, of...Read more...

Usher has long been the King of R&B" and the object of desire for women almost everywhere for decades, but his Las Vegas residency and recent tour have elevated him to legendary status. Thanks to his steamy serenades and sensual cherry feedings specifically, the There Goes My Baby" performer's shows have become a...Read more...

Updated as of 5/16/2025 at 11:00 a.m. ETRead more...

Although generations have passed since the American Civil War, slavery's past still taunts Black Americans in the form of Confederate flags and southern plantations. In fact, there remains hundreds of plantations in the American south- many of which are still privately owned by descendants of slave masters.Read more...

The internet is going crazy over a recent photo of PaulettaWashington, the wife of superstar Denzel Washington. And it's about time. Ok, so we know Pauletta Washington as Denzel's wife and John David, Malcom, Olivia and Katia's mom. But can we just take a minute to appreciate the beautiful and talented force that she...Read more...

If it's a competition for who is the best friend, Jennifer Hudson might've just won. Yesterday, J Hud left her longtime childhood best friend, Walter Williams, speechless with a visit from Aaron Pierre, that's Mufasa.Read more...

Since she introduced herself to the world as a young woman singing lead for the funk band Rufus, singer-songwriter Chaka Khan has topped the chart with hit songs that have stood the test of time, including the unofficial women's empowerment anthem, I'm Every Woman."Read more...

Casandra Cassie" Ventura courageously took the stand this week to testify against Sean Diddy" Combs amidst his federal sex crime trial. Many of his criminal accusations stem from a bombshell lawsuit she filed, which his attorneys have denounced as a money grab scheme. However, the singer cleared the air about her...Read more...

Snoop Dogg is calling out his haters one by one and his latest target is none other than his former Death Row Records collaborator Suge Knight. And believe us when we say, he's airing it all out!Read more...

As Beyonce's Cowboy Carter" tour continues to take over the country, her eldest daughter Blue Ivy is moving toward centerstage. In fact, the 13-year-old is so impressive, she's starting to make fans online question whether or not she's in-training by her famous mother to become a star in her own right very soon.Read more...

Parents in Portland, Oregon who say they were advocating for their Black son at the Catholic school he attends are now looking for answers after their questions for the administration led to their fourth grader's expulsion. - Angela Johnson Read MoreRead more...

TikTok has a way of bringing people together in the most unexpected-and entertaining-ways. But nothing could pull at your heartstrings more than the charming-and bizarre-online discourse dubbed Gingers Are Blacks." We'll explain how one video turned into honest, feel-good conversations and internet unity between...Read more...

With President Donald Trump tearing up the White House, Democrats are scrambling to find their presidential pick for the 2028 race. It's too early to tell who will be at the top of either party's ticket, but already, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett said donations are rolling in for one person. - Phenix S Halley Read MoreRead more...

Sean Diddy" Combs' federal trial began on Monday (May 12) with opening statements and The Root is keeping up with the day-to-day details surrounding the case. But because there's no cameras inside the court, the public has become increasingly curious to know more about Diddy's appearance. - Phenix S Halley Read MoreRead more...

Whew! Black folks have been tuning in to Sean Diddy" Combs' federal sex crime trial like it's the OJ Simpson case. The testimonies and evidence have provoked a lot of opinions and serious conversation topics about domestic violence.Read more...