Opinion
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: The Last Refuge of the Scoundrel
A wise man (I think it was Rakim…or maybe my cousin Geet) once said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Whoever said this was obviously not a regular reader of the Friday mailbag. If they were, they’d know that scoundrels have a variety of refuges, including: “Yo’ Mama”: The last refuge of child…
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The Root's Clapback Mailbag: Valentine's Day Edition
Every Friday, we clap back at hateful emails, tweets, DMs and comments from our readers. But, since today is the day when we celebrate romance, I thought we should respond to some of our emails that were about love. Unfortunately, there were none. So, we’ll just do what we usually do. Our first letter is…
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I Only Appreciated Kobe in His Totality After His Death
It has been two whole weeks since Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others perished in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles. I have spent the entire time trying to put my thoughts on his death together in a sensible way. So many of my friends and colleagues have said it much more…
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Which One of Y’all Called Heidi Klum a ‘White Woman’?
I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. I can tell you that I don’t have money. But what I do have is a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. So, if you…
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10 Reasons Why Inviting White People to the Mythical 'Cookout' Is Stupid and Silly and Needs to Stop Forever
1. Because it’s stupid and silly. 2. Because you’re fucking goofy for thinking this is cool. 3. Because cookout meat is precious and sacred and not meant to be shared with interlopers, gentrifiers, and Travis Fucking Kelce. 4. Because the bar for what constitutes “cookout invites” is lower than Rush Limbaugh’s life expectancy. 5. Because…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: The State of the Clapback Is Strong
My fellow Americans, I come before you today with good news. For nearly three years, we have addressed our readers’ emails, DMs, tweets, and comments in the weekly Mailbag. And in all those times, I have never shied away from an opportunity to clap back at my haters. But this is not Michael Harriot’s Clapback…
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To Trayvon, on Your 25th Birthday
Dear Trayvon, Today would have been your 25th birthday and, as I write this letter, I am listening to Aretha Franklin sing “Never Grow Old.” If I was predisposed to a belief in an eternal paradise, I would imagine that Queen Aretha hummed this hymn when she spotted you at her welcoming ceremony. Perhaps she…
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Kobe Bryant and the Perils of the 'Transcendent' Athlete
The premature, unbearable death of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other souls on board his helicopter last Sunday triggered an outpouring of grief rarely seen on this scale. It’s been a week of mourning and tributes: From the Philippines to Philadelphia, makeshift vigils and elaborate murals have bloomed on sidewalks and storefronts…