Opinion
Opinion
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Diddy Ruins Everything, Everybody
“Whoa” was a bulldozer of a track—a concussive and relentless four minutes that felt like you’d just been injected with a dose of Harlem, and not Ma$e’s Harlem, but Big L’s. To be in the club, on the floor, in 2000, when a DJ dropped that track felt life-threatening in all the best ways. But…
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Auntie Unfiltered Talks Country With Mickey Guyton
Although country music can trace some of its roots to Black people, Black artists in country music are often viewed as an anomaly. They are the exception, and not the rule, so when one chooses that path, it is bound to make an impact. Meet 37-year-old Mickey Guyton, the Black woman who is taking the…
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Because I'm Not an Idiot, Here Are 5 Things I'd Rather Fight Than Aaron Donald—and Yes, That Includes a School Bus
Look, I’m not a fan of violence. Corporal punishment is not my ministry, and aside from owning an Oculus Quest 2, I haven’t had to throw hands in a hot minute. But aside from maybe slapping the shit out of your firstborn—and even that’s up for debate—you have to be a special type of stupid…
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Daunte and the Debt Collectors: How the Cops Became Robbers
On Sunday, April 11, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was driving with his girlfriend in Brooklyn Center, Minn., when an armed posse, under the color and authority of the law, recognized the fact that he hadn’t paid for a sticker on his license plate. After stopping Wright for not having the decal that permitted him to drive…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: Cotton Pickin' Facts
This edition of the Mailbag is dedicated to all of the people out there fighting racism. Not the ones who want to eliminate white supremacy. This is also not for those who want to wipe out education, employment and economic inequality. If you’re against police brutality, this is not your Mailbag. Today, we are celebrating…
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Auntie Unfiltered Talks Auntie-isms With Bevy Smith
Who is your favorite auntie? What kind of advice did she give you? What lessons did you learn from her? This week, my guest is the ultimate Auntie, Bevy Smith. With her new book, Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie, Bevy is leaning into all the roles she has picked up along the way…
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Hubert Davis Was So Close to Having a Forgettable Press Conference
The first 38 minutes of Hubert Davis’ introductory press conference as the new men’s basketball head coach at the University of North Carolina hit each of the points that new hires for high-profile coaching gigs are expected to. He was gracious, emotional, and humble. He told the story of his own journey to North Carolina…
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*Crying Emoji*
So this is hard! Even though I always knew this day would eventually come, I never really expected it to come! After all, being editor-in-chief of The Root was my dream job! To give Black writers and editors and videographers and hosts a platform was my dream job! To create meaningful stories, content, reported pieces…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: Caucasian Race Theory
Like most people, I have a special alert for when I receive emails from important people. And, of course, The Root’s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton is on the email VIP list. Sometimes, it’s something important like when Crown Royal announces a new flavor or a video of a white woman calling the police on a Black…
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Pennsylvania Cop Suspended Over TikTok Video Declaring Confederate Flag Not Racist Despite Slavery Symbolism
White people, I need you to listen. No, seriously; lean in close, hear this and hear this well… *clears throat* POSTING STUPID AND RACIST SHIT ONLINE WILL FUCK WITH YOUR EMPLOYMENT!! I’m not even telling you to stop being stupid and racist—this is America, the land of stupidity and racism, after all—I’m actually trying to…