Events
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The Root’s Young Futurists 2020: Nominate the Leaders Who Are Ready to Change the World
The 2020 election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential elections in American history, and frankly, many of us are stressed just thinking about choosing a new leader (and getting rid of the old one). But what if you had a chance to choose the leaders of tomorrow? We’re looking for the…
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Hot Off the Press: Melanated News Strikes Again
Melanated News! Get your Melanated News here! What is Melanated News, you say? As black folks, Melanated News is a fictitious news show full of humor and some stories that we wish were true. Courtesy of your homies on The Root’s video team, Melanated News is back. The Root 100 Gala has come and gone,…
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We Did That: The 2019 Root 100 Gala Celebrated a Decade of Black Excellence
In the increasingly fickle world of journalism, longevity is no small feat. So to be celebrating 10 years of being the leading online source of black thought, news, opinions, and excellence was a serious undertaking for The Root crew’s at our 2019 Root 100 gala—a serious undertaking that was a hell of a lot of…
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Stacey Abrams Delivers Inspiring Acceptance Speech for The 2019 Root 100
Last night was beautiful. Yet another gala for The Root 100 in the books. I’m honestly still recovering, as is most of the staff, I’m sure. But I had to push through this recovery process to share the gift that is Stacey Abrams with the masses. Leader Abrams topped The Root 100 this year and…
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ABFF Honors Announces Deon Cole as Host, Will Honor Cast and Crew of The Wire
Each year, the American Black Film Festival Honors recognize black creatives for their invaluable contributions to the motion picture and television industry. And this year, for its fourth installment, the ceremony will not only reunite the cast and crew of HBO’s critically acclaimed series, The Wire, but it will be hosted by comedian Deon Cole.…
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From 'The Ladder' to 'The Cross,' Prince's Legacy Endures Through His Friends and Music at a Town Hall Tribute
The first time I saw Prince perform live, it was Christmas Eve, 1984 at the St. Paul Civic Center in St. Paul, Minn. It was his Purple Rain tour and I was already a rabid fan at age 9—albeit mildly scandalized watching my icon dry hump one of the many massive amps on stage (before…
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The Soul Cycle: The 2019 BET Soul Train Awards Served Equal Parts Nostalgia and Newness
You can always count on the Soul Train Awards—now known as the BET Soul Train Awards—to stir up nostalgia, and this year’s ceremony was no different. Taking place on Sunday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, 2019’s celebration was hosted by BFFs Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell, who set the “new-meets-nostalgia” tone with…
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Prince's Posthumous Memoir The Beautiful Ones Celebrates His Humanity. A Musical Event in New York City Will Celebrate Its Release
“I stayed in Minneapolis because Minneapolis made me. You have to give back.” — Prince Rogers Nelson, ‘The Beautiful Ones’ text As a kid coming of age in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minn. in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there were certain things I took for granted: the summers would be as hot as the winters…
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Kevin Hart’s Surprise Appearance and Other Observations From My Seat at the 2019 People’s Choice Awards
I love award shows. Awards season is my Super Bowl and I spent many hours of my childhood beaming at the sparkly dresses, fancy venue decor and effervescent statuettes, wishing (upon a star) that I’d one day be able to get a seat at one of those coveted tables. With my current job as an…
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Make It Count: Stacey Abrams on Why the 2020 Census and Fighting Voter Suppression Go Hand in Hand for Black Americans
“When we are not counted, we do not count. And when we do not count, we do not improve our communities.” —Stacey Abrams text In 2018, Stacey Abrams ran for governor of Georgia as the first black woman to be nominated by a major party. Despite gaining more votes than any Democrat ever during a…
