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Playing the Gentrification Game: In Ike Holter's Lottery Day, the Audience Wins
Gentrification continues to redistrict the boundaries of traditionally black and brown neighborhoods in urban cities across America—inevitably, pushing longtime residents and their stories to the fringes in favor of glossier, more palatable facades and narratives. Those stories have been the focus of playwright Ike Holter’s stunning seven-play “Rightlynd Saga,” focusing on the inhabitants of Chicago’s…
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Do You 'Know Your Girls'? New FDA Guidelines and an Influencer Campaign Encourage Black Women to Prioritize Breast Health
Fun fact: As I write this, I’m awaiting the results of my first mammogram. It’s an awkward, somewhat anxiety-inducing, but nevertheless necessary rite of passage for most women over 40, and one I was admittedly slightly (slightly) overdue for. That’s right: I allowed the rest of my busy life to become a higher priority than…
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Redefining the Role: LaTanya Richardson Jackson Finds a Well-Deserved Spotlight in Broadway's To Kill a Mockingbird
Many know her as one-half of one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages, but LaTanya Richardson Jackson (wife of Samuel L. Jackson), is an acting powerhouse in her own right. Just ask the audiences currently experiencing her talent nightly in Broadway’s acclaimed production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Scripted by award-winning writer, producer and director Aaron…
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Privacy, Please: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Opt for a Non-Traditional Birth Announcement and Oprah Defends the Duchess
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcome their first child later this month, don’t expect the traditional photo-op on the hospital steps of St. Mary’s, where Kate Middleton gave birth to all three of her children in the hospital’s private Lindo Wing. In fact, People reports that in yet another break with royal tradition,…
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‘Save Yourself’: Oprah Joins Stacey Abrams, Mae Jemison and More at the 10th Annual Women in the World Summit
“We women people, we are used to saving other folk; we’ve been doing it a very long time,” said Oprah Winfrey, keynote speaker of the 2019 Women in the World Summit on Wednesday night. “And we need to first and foremost honor the sacred time of saving ourselves because that is where our greatest power…
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Staycation: Donald Glover Announces Guava Island Will Stream on Amazon During Weekend 1 of Coachella
Can’t stand crowds, port-a-potties or $10 bottles of water? Never fear if you’re missing Coachella this year; at least two of its best moments will be available to stream right in your living room. Just days after Netflix announced we could all revisit 2018’s Beychella on April 17 with the arrival of Homecoming, Donald Glover…
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Ready for a New Adventure? The Glow Up, VSB and Toyota Are Taking Charge in Philly!
Feeling overdue for a new adventure in your life? The first step is believing it’s possible—and trust us, it is. On Thursday, May 2, we’re bringing the empowerment and inspiration you need to Philadelphia when The Glow Up and Very Smart Brothas host “Taking Charge,” in partnership with Toyota. That’s right; we’re bringing one of…
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With ‘Shades of Black,’ The Guardian Enters the Colorism Conversation
We talk about it. We joke about it. We resent it. We reinforce it. We rage about it. Anyone who has lived this life as a black person—and especially, a black woman—knows all too well the loaded conversation that is colorism. It’s a worldwide epidemic, and not one unique to black people, but the ways…
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Black Mothers Matter: Reps. Alma Adams and Lauren Underwood Launch the Black Maternal Health Caucus
As the war of words on any number of hot-button issues—including immigration, the environment and equal pay—continue among United States lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, two black congresswomen are ensuring black mothers and children don’t get lost in shuffle. On Tuesday morning, freshman Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Il.) joined Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) in…
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'I'm Living Proof': On the Heels of Her Own Recovery, Wendy Williams Releases PSA for New Substance Abuse Hotline
Wendy Williams is no stranger to the struggle of addiction. The diva of daytime talk television has long been candid about her own past drug use, including a recent return to treatment and sober living amid months of media reports speculating about her health, marriage and sobriety. Now, Williams is paying it forward with the…
