Opinion
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: The Unusual Suspects
The biggest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing white people they weren’t racist. His second biggest was to convince them to send emails, tweets, DMs and comments to The Root. Who are these people? Some say it’s angry wypipo. Others say it’s racist dummies. But to hear them tell it, they’re rational-thinking, concerned Americans…
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Pardon Me While I Clap Back at the Wall Street Journal’s Bullshit
If, perchance, one day, a team of white supremacist elves (although that description may be redundant because I believe all elves are racist, including Santa’s, Keebler’s, Jeff Sessions, and even Kevin Hart) invaded the Wall Street Journal’s newsroom and—instead of printing the evening edition—ran 54 pages in 10-point Times New Roman font just repeating the word…
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Steve Harvey Is Stupid
Some people know things. Many people, however, are able to eke out a more-than-modest living by convincing people that they know things. They aren’t blessed with the gift of knowledge as much as they are blessed with the gift of charismatic sophistry. Politicians call it “spin.” Poets describe it as “silver-tongued.” Niggas who smoke Newports…
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Measles, Racism and How America Ignores Deadly Viruses
As America struggles to overcome the re-emergence of disturbing trends like Nazis, Watergate-style presidential scandals and—worst of all—fanny packs, white people have once again proven their resurrection powers by bringing back something even the most cynical among us could never have imagined. The measles. According to the CDC, the 764 confirmed cases of measles between…
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Stepping in IT (Information Technology)
At the beginning of this year, I saw a meme on Facebook where a young man mentioned that over the past year, he had learned to stop “aspiring to sit at tables where he had to bring his own chair, squeeze in between folks and repeatedly convince people that he deserved to be there.” That…
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Ain’t Too Proud to Sing: Claiming Black Space on the Great White Way
Two days ago, the Broadway show Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations was nominated for 12 Tony Awards. For those who don’t follow the Great White Way, this is big. Big! For those of you who do, you know that this grand spotlight means industry insiders, Tony voters and wealthy retirees…
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'Ex-Con,' 'Ex-Offender' and 'Ex-Inmate' Are Words That Reduce Millions to Stereotype
For those with criminal backgrounds, who decides when they get to be human again? text When President Donald Trump signed the recent First Step Act into law, many people considered it to be the most important criminal justice reform measure in years. I’ve followed the legislation with some interest because I served a sentence in…
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Watch: The Root’s Clapback Mailbag, Explained
Two years ago, The Root began a community service project intended to uplift the voices of some of our most loyal readers. Sure, we could have simply said “Thank you” and sent you on your merry way, but we wanted to do something more interactive, more personal. Thus, the Clapback Mailbag. Every Friday, we rummage…
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A Michigan Town Wants the Cops to Crack Down on the #BBQBeckys of the World — and We’re Here for It
You may remember #BBQBecky, the white woman who decided to call 911 on a group of black people who were simply barbecuing on a summer day in Oakland, Calif.? Or maybe you’ll recall #PoolPatrolPaula, the white woman who threatened to call 911 on three black teens for simply showing up at a public pool? Or…
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What It Means to Be Lucky in America
Eddie Adams is a remarkable young man. A gifted cellist, Adams attends George Mason University in Northern Virginia. Two weeks ago, the Washington Post profiled Adams, contrasting his love for the instrument—and a recent performance at the Kennedy Center—against his “life of poverty and torment.” Adams’ story won the hearts of readers. Yesterday, the Post…