Very Smart Brothas https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.comen-US https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/abolish-all-these-damn-zoom-work-calls-so-i-can-be-nake-1844841950

So it’s not so much that working while naked is a thing I need to do. I’m anemic, so I get cold easily. (I am the person who, immediately after checking into a hotel room, turns the thermostat to 80, leaves and doesn’t come back until the room is sufficiently toasty.) And it doesn’t feel sanitary to sit my bare Black…

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abolish zoomworking from homeTue, 25 Aug 2020 18:30:00 GMT1844841950
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/exclusive-photos-of-the-los-angeles-clippers-guarding-1844829563

Here’s some shots of Reggie Jackson contesting Luka’s game-winning step-back.

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bbq chickenfried chickenluka doncicnbabasketballkawhi leonardMon, 24 Aug 2020 20:00:00 GMT1844829563
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/new-york-city-is-dead-because-i-killed-it-when-i-left-1844791987

“The city is dead,” I said, aloud, to no one, while each step I took crashed the same cement I’d fallen in love with. The pizza box I lugged with me—filled, just 32 minutes earlier, with a New York City pizza slice—was empty, except for crumbs. Heh. A metaphor, for the dead city.

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murdernew york citypittsburghThu, 20 Aug 2020 20:30:00 GMT1844791987
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/a-line-by-line-s-breakdown-of-alleged-foolywang-jam-d-1844787960

In October 1999, singer/songwriter/producer Donnell Jones released his second album, platinum-selling Where I Wanna Be. The first single featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was a hit—his highest-charting hit, in fact—landing inside the top 10 of Billboard’s pop charts. Interestingly, the first record I remember hearing…

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donnell joneswhere i wanna belisa left eye lopesjagged edgelets get marriedhat cultureblack musicrb90sThu, 20 Aug 2020 17:30:00 GMT1844787960
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/abolish-gutless-white-journalists-saying-america-when-t-1844777678

You cannot read Ethan Strauss’s piece on the NBA’s rating problems without a subscription to The Athletic. Fortunately, you do not need to read it to have read it, because his 25-character tweet accurately synopsizes the 2,000 words behind the paywall.

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white people white peoplingethan straussthe nbawhite peopleWed, 19 Aug 2020 18:15:00 GMT1844777678
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/the-best-part-of-lovecraft-countrys-premiere-what-happ-1844765577

Of the several nits I have to pick with Watchmen—a show I am still infatuated with—the most prominent (and also the pettiest) is that the murderous racists didn’t die violent and painful enough deaths.

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lovecraft countrywatchmenhboracistsdenzel washingtonTue, 18 Aug 2020 19:15:00 GMT1844765577
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/if-an-album-isnt-streaming-online-does-it-really-exist-1844752049

I did something recently that I haven’t done in probably 10 years—I made two compact disc (CD) purchases. That’s right, in the year of our lord 2020, I purchased Adriana Evans 1997 self-titled debut album and De La Soul’s Five-Mic classic, 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead. I spent $21 and $25, respectively, of my hard-earned…

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de la soulde la soul is deadadriana evansaaliyahbarry hankersonblack musichip hopcocomidnight maraudersa tribe called questMon, 17 Aug 2020 19:30:00 GMT1844752049
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/abolish-maga-parody-hats-1844749632

Conceding even the tiniest thing to a hateful and violent twerp like our president feels like a total defeat. Unfortunately, I must admit that there are (at least) three zeitgeist-related places that he has “won”—where his influence has been total and, possibly, irreversible.

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maga hatmake america great againdonald trumpmagaMon, 17 Aug 2020 18:00:00 GMT1844749632
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/the-root-jams-weekly-8-14-2020-wet-ass-playlist-1844727246

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion set the internet on fire with their song and video, “WAP,” which stands for “wet ass p***y.” Well, after probably a million formal and informal takes on the song, the staff at The Root decided to curate a playlist of Raunch-jams for your listening pleasure(s). Shouts out to Cardi and…

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root jams weeklywapraunchy songship hopblack musicrbFri, 14 Aug 2020 18:30:00 GMT1844727246
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/anxiety-is-for-girls-gays-wimps-and-white-people-1844726279

The second biggest lie that I allow people who’ve read my book, and who’ve heard me speak about my book, to believe is that I’m brave. “How did you find the courage,” they ask, during Q&As at independent bookstores, and through emails and (now) Zoom talks, “to be so forthcoming and vulnerable about your neuroses and

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quiet stormanxietysocial anxietyblack masculinitypatriarchywhat doesnt kill you makes you blackerFri, 14 Aug 2020 17:14:00 GMT1844726279
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/7-quick-thoughts-about-nas-new-blackness-jam-ultra-bla-1844727326

God-level MC, hip-hop mainstay and legend, Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones—aka Nas aka Nasty Nas aka Esco aka “N-A-S are the letters that spell, Nas Nas Nas”—released a new Hit-Boy produced record, “Ultra Black,” (and announced a new album, King’s Disease) for our listening pleasure on all streaming platforms. I have 7…

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nasultra blackkings diseasehit boyhip hopblack musicjay zeunique jones gibsonbecause of them we canFri, 14 Aug 2020 16:30:00 GMT1844727326
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/my-head-is-part-of-my-body-and-my-middle-name-is-makeba-1844716563

As a child, the word “crazy” bounced around every black space I called home. “Crazy” was a destination and an origin. “Crazy” was at once a pejorative and wholly emblematic of our abundance. I loved the word “crazy.” I used it a lot in my oral communication with folks I loved. I used it to describe folks I despised.…

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quiet stormmississippimiriam makebacrazytherapyself careblack mental healthThu, 13 Aug 2020 20:00:00 GMT1844716563
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/covid-19-made-me-a-one-issue-voter-get-the-man-respons-1844700919

So I guess there’s no point in belaboring my premise since it’s right there, with a bullhorn, in the title, but I do want to clarify.

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covidkamala harrisjoe bidencovid 19donald trumpcoronavirusThu, 13 Aug 2020 14:30:00 GMT1844700919
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/why-some-men-seem-to-be-so-bothered-by-cardi-bs-wap-1844705608

This is dumb.

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wapcardi bmegan thee stallionpatriarchyWed, 12 Aug 2020 21:45:00 GMT1844705608
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/the-life-lost-but-never-forgotten-and-the-movie-i-strug-1844701646

I can’t just watch the movie John Q.

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quiet stormjohn qtraumahuntsville alabamadeathdenzel washingtonblack mental healthWed, 12 Aug 2020 20:00:00 GMT1844701646
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/on-loneliness-at-3-a-m-in-lagos-1844688647

It was 3 a.m. in Onikan, a suburb of Lagos. The street below her window was uncharacteristically quiet. In the distance, she could hear the faint thump of a bass-line and the strained, faint chorus of afrobeat. She listened for the shrieks of laughter and enjoyment coming from the building down the road. In the…

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quiet stormlagosnigeriainsomniaanxietyblack mental healthlonelinessnigeriaWed, 12 Aug 2020 13:00:00 GMT1844688647
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/heres-some-songs-presented-today-for-no-reason-whatsoe-1844673830

1. “Too Close” Next

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songs about presumably hard ass dickswapblack musicpenis sizepenisMon, 10 Aug 2020 19:15:00 GMT1844673830
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/play-the-healing-game-1844673782

Prior to COVID, I’d have all of these speaking gigs and book events all across the country; shit was sweet.

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quiet stormblack mental healthbaltimoretherapyanxietyimposter syndromeMon, 10 Aug 2020 18:30:00 GMT1844673782
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/the-discreet-charms-of-malady-1844649948

First, oh, the stories you will tell. I awake from a four-hour surgery with an epidural and pain pump full of Fentanyl to sounds of a man dying on the gurney next to me, separated only by a threadbare curtain. Codes blare over the PA system, calling for every available physician to assist while next door, there’s the…

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quiet stormblack mental healthcovid 19hysterectomyendometriosisblack writersFri, 07 Aug 2020 19:30:00 GMT1844649948
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/the-root-jams-weekly-the-bad-bitch-playlist-8-7-2020-1844648225

Every now and then you have to reach into your bag for your inner “bad bitch.” Sometimes, that’s what it takes to get the job done. This week’s playlist is chock full of jams to harness the power of that inner “bad bitch.”

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root jams weeklybad bitchFri, 07 Aug 2020 18:30:00 GMT1844648225
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/if-kanye-somehow-stays-in-the-presidential-race-itll-h-1844648900

“No, I don’t have any bottled water” was my reply, 12 years ago, when two women—one of whom I was dating; the other was her friend—visited my apartment for the first time.

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kanye westdonald trumpjoe bidenkool aidpresidential election2020 presidential raceFri, 07 Aug 2020 16:54:00 GMT1844648900
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/a-list-of-characters-in-hamilton-who-also-shouldve-shot-1844635902

1. At least once a week, 50 Cent does or says a thing that makes you think “Yeah, I see why people want to kill you.” Alexander Hamilton was (spoiler alert) killed by Aaron Burr, but like 17 different people had good reason to kill him too. The homie Bassey put it best: “Not enough people shot him.”

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people who also should have shot hamiltonhamiltonlin manuel mirandaaaron burrleslie odomjrrenee elise goldsberryThu, 06 Aug 2020 19:30:00 GMT1844635902
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/10-questions-i-have-in-preparation-for-the-greenleaf-se-1844623365

[I shouldn’t have to say this given that this is about the SERIES FINALE, but SPOILER ALERT. ALL THE SPOILERS ARE PRESENT.]

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greenleafkeith davidlynn whitfieldmerle dandridgelamman ruckerdeborah joy winansblack churchoprah winfreyshenanigansblack televisionWed, 05 Aug 2020 20:15:00 GMT1844623365
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/do-you-know-what-brolic-means-and-if-not-where-are-y-1844622581

While walking through some mud at Moraine State Park last weekend, I thought about how “mud” is one of those perfect words that fits exactly what it is. Mud looks and acts and feels and smells exactly like something we should call “mud.” It would make no sense if the word for mud was something fancier sounding, like…

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words that should be in the dictionarybrolicaaveWed, 05 Aug 2020 19:30:00 GMT1844622581
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/i-just-want-to-be-normal-and-i-need-a-therapist-to-con-1844609061

“It is weird?” I asked, in a message I copied and pasted to several people through text, on Gchat, and in Facebook Messenger, six weeks ago. The question was a followup to a revelation I also shared with the same people: I’d recently discovered, while finally seriously researching potential therapists—after telling…

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quiet stormtherapyblack men in therapytherapistsWed, 05 Aug 2020 13:00:00 GMT1844609061