Television
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Reggie Hayes Speaks on Battling Congestive Heart Failure and Girlfriends Being Undervalued
It’s been twenty years since the premiere of Girlfriends and one of its co-stars, Reggie Hayes, has some things to say. Though the series delightfully centered Black women, Hayes’ “William Jerrowme Dent, Esq.” was a recurring staple in the lives of Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), Toni (Jill Marie Jones), Maya (Golden Brooks), and Lynn (Persia…
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Black Spoken Word Artist Becomes 1st Ever Poet to Win America’s Got Talent
As a poet and spoken word artist myself, I can appreciate someone with a wicked pen game and great delivery. In fact, I am not the only spoken word artist and poet on The Root staff. Perhaps you’ve heard of Michael Harriot, our resident Wypipologist, master race-baiter and the last real Negus alive. Try not…
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On the 15th Anniversary of Everybody Hates Chris, Everybody Found Out About Its Original Theme Song
Everybody Hates Chris, and everybody is talking about it these days. Why? Because the show, created by Chris Rock and Ali Leroi, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month! Premiering in September 2005 on UPN (after FOX passed on it), the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated TV series followed the dysfunctional real-life shenanigans of Rock’s teenage…
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The Safe Negro Guide to Lovecraft Country: 'Meet Me in Daegu'
Welcome back to Lovecraft Country—we are past the halfway point of the season’s journey! I can totally see Misha Green in her writers’ room, saying, “Give me K-Horror, but make it BLACK!” What I am really enjoying is how the show’s creators are throwing all of these different, well-developed worlds and storylines at us, confident…
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Emmys 2020: Zendaya's Historic Lead Actress Win Is Euphoric
Another year, another TV awards season! Well actually, this isn’t just another year (*stares into camera*), but you know what I mean. Before we start with the big show, there were some Black-ass wins at the 72nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which spanned across five days. Here are some highlights: First off, Eddie Murphy…
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Chris Rock Shrugs Off Jimmy Fallon Blackface Skit on SNL: 'Jimmy’s a Great Guy and He Didn’t Mean Anything'
Everybody may not hate Chris, but we certainly wouldn’t blame you for side-eyeing him. The 55-year-old comedian, who has been promoting his starring turn on the fourth season of Fargo, was recently asked by the New York Times to discuss his feelings about Jimmy Fallon impersonating Rock in blackface on an episode of SNL that…
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Jeremy Tardy Quits Dear White People Role, Accuses Lionsgate of 'Lowballing' People of Color in Pay Negotiations
Jeremy Tardy, who had a recurring role as a Kenyan student on Netflix’s series Dear White People, recently announced he was leaving the show, claiming racial discrimination and pay disparities affecting people of color. In a recent Facebook post, Tardy confirmed he will no longer be portraying the role of “Rashid” and called out the…
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The Safe Negro Guide to Lovecraft Country: 'Strange Case'
Hey! Welcome back to another week in Lovecraft Country! Our fifth week’s episode—the first half of our midpoint in the season, and our most extensive analysis to date—was full of interruptions and metamorphoses (spoilers to follow): Ruby was plagued by interruptions, both as a Black woman and a white one; Tic’s progress seems to be…
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Will Smith and Janet Hubert Flipped and Turned Everything Upside Down
The above header photo is from the year 2020. Yes. You read that right. Because in 2020, everything that you thought was wrong is right and everything you thought was fixed is flexible—just like Janet Hubert in that iconic dance episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. But, let’s back it up for a bit.…
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TV Show That Has Historically Taken Forever to Premiere New Season Delayed Again Due to Thing That’s Delaying Everything Else
We’ve said it countless times—our sense of time has been completely warped in 2020. For example, this week is a short week due to the recent Labor Day holiday and yet it still feels like it should’ve been Friday three days ago. (Editor’s Note: Seriously, how is it only Thursday???) And yet, I still have…