Love is in the air — allegedly. That’s what fans of Keke Palmer and “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans think after a recent episode of Palmer’s podcast captured everybody’s attention online 😍

. @mayor.nyc.gov Zohran Mamdani spoke exclusively to The Root about “Block by Block,” which targets Black and brown communities most impacted by housing disparities.

From tech corridors to legacy Southern hubs, from federal job centers to rapidly expanding suburban counties, Black Americans are forging communities where Black wealth and excellence continue to grow — carrying on the legacy of Black Wall Street.

Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, a political journalist and professor, experiences a blackout while reporting in Cuba. There’s been widespread darkness in the country due to sanctions from the Trump administration.

Political strategist Antjuan Seawright says the fight over Rep. Jim Clyburn’s South Carolina seat is about far more than one Democrat but about the future of Black political representation in the South.

Naomi Osaka turned heads once again with her entrance and reveal at the 2026 French Open.

A national coalition of civil rights, faith, labor, and other organizations has announced the next phase of its sweeping “Freedom Summer” campaign.

Actress, writer, producer Yvette Nicole Brown talks about the high cost of healthcare and inequitable services for the ‘One Nation, Overcharged’ campaign.

On an episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, journalist Gayle King discussed her 50-year friendship with Oprah, the trust they have for one another, her infamous and viral interview with R. Kelly in 2019, and what aging means to her.

Cubans are in a dire situation currently because of U.S. sanctions under the Trump administration. Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, a political journalist and professor, is in Havana covering the state of emergency and the political imprisonment on Afro-Cubans. Follow his coverage for The Root.

Kevin Hart is pushing back after facing criticism over his reaction to Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about the late George Floyd during Hart’s recent Netflix roast. In an appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Hart addressed the backlash, though many still feel his response fell short.

Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta Beauty’s “Transition Blush” launch has sparked backlash after people online accused the brand of copying PaintedbyEsther, a Black makeup artist known for her under-eye-to-cheek blush technique.

The South Carolina Senate blocked a congressional map Tuesday — on the first day of early voting for the June primary — that would’ve eliminated a majority-Black district and the state’s only Democratic seat held by Rep. Jim Clyburn.

Naomi Osaka hosted a pre-French Open “Black Party” dinner with Coco Gauff, Gael Monfils, Taylor Townsend, Christopher Eubanks, Asia Muhammad, and other Black tennis stars. However, critics accused the four-time Grand Slam champion of being “exclusionary.” Osaka defended her dinner party.

In a moment steeped in history and heavy with moral reckoning, Pope Leo XIV delivered one of the Vatican’s most sweeping apologies for the Catholic Church’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Some of the biggest music stars arrived in Las Vegas for the 2026 American Music Awards on Monday night.

A panel of three federal judges rejected a new voting map for Alabama on Tuesday, saying the districts outlined discriminate against Black voters.

We’re honoring the incredible contributions Black people have made to our culture with a curated collection of wisdom — The Root has gathered personal insights from 100 of the most influential Black thought leaders, creatives, and innovators. Here’s what “Insecure” actor Jean Elie shared with us.

The Root is gathering wisdom from 100 influential Black thought leaders, creatives, and innovators in an ongoing series this year. Their work has shaped culture, challenged norms, and reimagined success. Here are a few inspirational words that Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) shared with The Root.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11 and runs through July 19. There are 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Here's just a few of the Black players to watch! #worldcup

At 22 years old, Chris Young was sentenced to a life sentences in federal prison with no chance of parole under mandatory “three strikes” laws. He grew up in poverty in Tennessee and says he turned to selling drugs as a teenager to survive.

Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is officially coming to Halloween Horror Nights.

Rapper David Banner recently sparked an intense conversation, claiming Martin Luther King Jr. regretted the fight for integration. Now, the civil rights icon’s youngest daughter Bernice has weighed in, saying, “Daddy’s goal was never assimilation.”

The Justice Department’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” could put cold, hard cash into the pockets of January 6 Capitol rioters for “reimbursement” 👀 Here’s how.

Shaquille O’Neal revealed on Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s “NBA Tip-Off” that he is close to being hired as a professor at Louisiana State University.

Emmy Award winner Quinta Brunson will star as Betty Boop in a live action feature film.

In a curated collection of personal insights, The Root is speaking to 100 of the most influential Black thought leaders, creatives, and innovators who have shaped culture, challenged systems, and redefined success. Here are a few words that writer and actor Dewayne Perkins shared with The Root.

Elon Musk has continued fanning the flames of racism over Lupita Nyong’o’s role as Helen of Troy in the upcoming film adaptation of “The Odyssey.”

We saw multiple primary wins from Black candidates across the country Tuesday, from Georgia all the way to Oregon. But the movement doesn’t stop here. It starts with all of you.

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a new congressional map in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting not only the state’s only Democratic seat but moving to remove the only Black Democrat in Congress the state has ever had.

President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to admit 10,000 more white South Africans into the U.S. as refugees, according to documents obtained by the New York Times.

Georgia Sen. Raphael @warnock.senate.gov (D) called the Supreme Court’s recent actions dismantling section two of the Voting Rights Act a “massive blow” and argued that attacks on voting rights, representation, and political power are all connected. 🎥 @evamckend.bsky.social

Florida Rep. Maxwell @frost.house.gov (D) said Tuesday that people are frustrated because life feels unaffordable, arguing that the fight over democracy is tied directly to that reality.

Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood (D) said attacks on voting rights and Black representation are not isolated to one state and they shape political power across the country.

In honor of what would’ve been Malcolm X’s 101st birthday, we’re looking back at some of the icon’s most defining words of wisdom — many of which resonate today amidst the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and freedom.

As states fight redistricting battles in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that gutted voting rights, we spoke with four leaders who’ve been on the frontlines: TN Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social, Rep. Shomari Figures, TN Sen. Raumesh Akbari, and @blackvotersmatterfund.org Founder LaTosha Brown.

Florida Rep. Maxwell @frost.house.gov (D) says young people were sold a version of the American dream that is no longer attainable.

The NAACP on Tuesday called on Black athletes, fans, and alumni to withhold athletic and financial support from public universities in states that are weakening Black political representation in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling last month that gutted the Voting Rights Act.

We’re honoring the outstanding contributions Black people have made to our culture through an exclusive collection of insights shared with The Root from some of the most influential Black thought leaders, creatives, and innovators. Here are a few words of wisdom from Rev. Dr. William Barber II.

A school district in Tennessee has banned Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Roots,” arguing the subject matter is too much for children to handle.

For years, fans have speculated on why Lauryn Hill never released a sophomore studio album after 1998’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” widely considered one of the greatest albums ever created. Now, the legendary artist herself is stepping into the conversation.

South Carolina state Rep. JA Moore (D) expressed how flabbergasted and upset he was that “a guy from Queens” aka President Donald Trump is influencing state politics.

Rapper Plies took to his Instagram over the weekend to vent to his 10 million followers about how upsetting it is for Black Americans to continuously have to fight to retain their rights. He brought up the recent voting rights protests and marches happening around the country to make his point.

Keith Lee, the TikTok food critic and influencer, hosted his inaugural FamiLee Day in New Orleans on Saturday. More than 20,000 people attended, according to Louisiana NBC station WWL.

Former President Barack Obama has tapped into the national conversation on voting rights, reflecting on Saturday’s Day of Action when thousands of Americans descended on Montgomery, Alabama. The photo here was taken during the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march in 2015.

Montgomery — often celebrated as the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement — saw thousands of Americans march and speak out for voting rights this weekend. From 1965 through today, the fight for true equality and representation continues.

“Any non-Black person in leadership should be saying something about it,” OPIN Executive Director Neidi Dominguez says. “We can't fight these fights siloed from each other.” Repost from @opinorg.bsky.social

Tevin Davis was on the ground in Montgomery, Alabama, for The Root during the National Day of Action — where thousands gathered in the city that helped shape the Civil Rights Movement to push back against attacks on voting rights.

High school sophomore Josiah Hardy bravely testified before the Louisiana State Senate on May 7 during lengthy redistricting discussions, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that demolished parts of the Voting Rights Act.

Today in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, crowds gathered for the National Day of Action. Activists, lawmakers, and everyday people pushed back against attacks on voting rights and Black political representation happening across the South. Here are scenes taken by Nikolai Pizarro on Instagram.