Martin Johnson
The Root
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Martin:
Spreading the Word: Meet the Man Who Created a Spotify for Church Sermons
Like many preachers, Nicholas Richards felt a special affinity for the pulpit. “I didn’t choose the church,” he said during a recent interview. “The church chose me.” Don’t take our word for it. → Read More
‘I Wanted to Be a Part of History’: What It Means to Work for the 1st Black President
His Lasting Legacy: African-American White House staffers discuss what it’s been like working for President Barack Obama, who has had the most diverse administration in American history. → Read More
Black Iris Project: Telling African-American Stories Through Ballet
Choreographer Jeremy McQueen launched the dance collective as a new way to share stories rooted in the black experience. → Read More
TV Review: Did We Really Need a Roots Remake? No, but
I vividly recall the original iteration of the TV miniseries Roots. It was January 1977 and I was 17. → Read More
TV Review: Did We Really Need a Roots Remake? No, but
I vividly recall the original iteration of the TV miniseries Roots. It was January 1977, and I was 17. → Read More
Director Steve McQueen’s Art Project Offers a Haunting Look at the FBI Surveillance of Paul Robeson
Working on the project, now on display at the Whitney Museum in New York City, inspired the 12 Years a Slave filmmaker to begin making a biopic of the legendary performer and activist. → Read More
Filmmaker’s Quirky Love Story Takes on Affairs of the Heart and Mind
Damien D. Smith’s About That ... explores mental illness with humor and compassion. → Read More
How Players Like Kobe and LeBron Changed the NBA by Skipping College to Go Pro
A new book examines how the so-called prep-to-pros generation helped the league redefine itself in the post-Michael Jordan era. → Read More
Here’s What Happens When You Give Money to Female and Minority Entrepreneurs to Fix Global Problems
Village Capital seeks to level the economic playing field by investing in those who are normally shut out of the funding process. → Read More
Born, Bred and Buttered in Harlem: Chef Melba Wilson Talks About New Cookbook and How Soul Food Is American Comfort Food
The restaurateur wants to change the stereotype that African-American cuisine is the opposite of contemporary lean cuisine. “We invented farm to table,” she says. → Read More
How Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Tristan Walker Turned a Close Shave Into a Booming Business
The mastermind behind the Bevel discusses the company’s recent move into Target stores and what’s next for the grooming-product line. → Read More
Filmmaker Out to Prove That Black Superheroes Can Be Leading Characters
While Hollywood takes its time introducing a lead black comic book hero, Eric Dean Stanton is already doing it with his short, The Legend of Mantamaji. → Read More
Filmmaker Looks to a Blaxploitation Classic to Craft Strong, Black Characters for a New Generation
Scott Evans talks to The Root about his short film, TroubleMan, and his struggles to break into the game. → Read More
How Spike Lee Inspired This Filmmaker to Do His Own Thing
Up-and-coming director Ryan Isreal talked to The Root about how seeing Do the Right Thing took him on the path to create the horror-comedy short film Hott Damned. → Read More
Finding Your Roots: Shonda Rhimes, Maya Rudolph and Keenen Ivory Wayans Learn Shocking Facts About Their Families
The revelations make for compelling television. → Read More
A Sweet Way to Take Your Cocktails to the Next Level
Forrest Butler, the co-creator of Royal Rose Simple Syrup, tells The Root why he decided to launch the all-natural line. → Read More
Finding Your Roots Returns to PBS With New Episodes
Season 3 of the series, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, premieres with ancestry searches for political strategist Donna Brazile, actor Ty Burrell and artist Kara Walker. → Read More
Holiday Traditions Around the World: How We Celebrate the Season
The family gatherings and gift giving all seem familiar, but different countries put a unique spin on celebrating the holidays. → Read More
The Color Purple Broadway Review: A Story of Sisterhood That Never Gets Old
Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo bring powerful voices to a revival of a musical that celebrates black female empowerment. → Read More
Broadway Revival Brings a Different Shade to The Color Purple
Star Jennifer Hudson and her cast mates talk to The Root about performing in the new, minimalist version of the musical based on Alice Walker’s classic book. → Read More