The Root

Stephen A. Smith Dragged For Mocking NFL Star Lane Johnson’s Comments About Mental Health

Phenix S Halley — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:46:52 +0000

Stephen A. Smith, who has spoken openly about his own mental health struggles, faces criticism for mocking an NFL star's retirement decision.

The Incredible Story of Liberia’s First Black Female President

Angela Wilson — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:43:42 +0000

The Root is giving Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—Liberia's first female president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate—her flowers for consistently serving as a global beacon of freedom, women's empowerment, and democracy just before her 88th birthday.

Olandria Manifested Her Dream Makeup Collab—Here’s How

Shanelle Genai — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:37:21 +0000

The ever-gorgeous Olandria and famed makeup artist Pat McGrath have teamed up for an all-new, dazzling campaign! Here's how it all came to be!

New Details in ‘RHOP’s’ Gizelle Bryant’s Messy Legal Battle Over Her Father’s Will

Shanelle Genai — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:17:05 +0000

'RHOP' star Gizelle Bryant said she and her siblings lost their fight over their father’s estate. Now, new court records and details explain what started the dispute.

The Best Street Style From 2026 HBCU Homecomings

Phenix S Halley — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:13:04 +0000

From the Yard to the after-party, HBCU homecoming delivers standout streetwear, coordinated looks and plenty of fashion inspiration this season.

Body-Cam Footage of Fatal Police Shooting of Unarmed Black Teen Raises Urgent Questions

Phenix S Halley — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:53:13 +0000

Newly released body cam footage has caused Saveion McConnell’s family to question why one officer used a gun instead of a Taser.

Black TV And Movie Villains Who Spoke Truth

Ty Cole — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:41:11 +0000

With Halloween upon us, we’re flipping the script and highlighting the villains who said the quiet part out loud.

Opinion: The Memphis Safe Task Force is the Wrong Model for America

Tatsha Robertson — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:08:26 +0000

My experience shapes how I see the Memphis Safe Task Force, and I am deeply concerned that the federal government now wants to make it a public safety model for other cities

Austin Gentrifiers In Viral Video Sparks Outrage After Citing $1.5M Home Value to HBCU Students

Shanelle Genai — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:02:55 +0000

A viral parking dispute near Austin’s Huston-Tillotson University highlights the racial entitlement and gentrification creeping into historically Black spaces.

The Real ‘Nickel Boys’: How Researchers Are Preserving Stories of Black Boys Who Died in State Custody

Shanelle Genai — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:57:19 +0000

The story behind 'Nickel Boys' was horrifying enough, but the real history of Black children in state custody cuts much deeper.