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‘Vanessa Huxtable’s Hair Was Not Always Perfectly Pressed’: Shonda Rhimes Talks Natural Hair Representation on Television
On a mild-weathered Wednesday evening, I traveled toward Downey, Calif., to visit the Los Angeles County of Education and was swept with an immense sense of pride. As I awaited the esteemed panel to take the stage, I couldn’t help but smile at the sea of beautiful black girls coiffed in different hairstyles—braids, twists, afro…
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Diahann Carroll, the First African-American Woman to Star on Primetime TV in Non-Domestic Role, Dies at 84
Earth has just gotten a little less beautiful. Diahann Carroll, the outstandingly talented actress and singer, has died at the age of 84. Carroll’s daughter, producer-journalist Suzanne Kay confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that her mother died in her home in Los Angeles following a long bout with cancer. As THR reports: Carol Diahann Johnson…
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A Duke, a Duchess and…a Documentary About the Royal Couple (and Archie!) Is Coming
Lights, camera, action—we’re getting some behind-the-scenes scoop about Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s South Africa tour! According to W Magazine, ITV News anchor Tom Bradby has been inspired to film a documentary about the royal couple’s second official tour (their first being in Australia). “Just finished filming a documentary on Harry and Meghan in Africa,”…
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Cynthia Erivo to Portray Aretha Franklin in First-Ever Authorized Limited Series About the Queen of Soul
Fresh off the heels of Harriet, Cynthia Erivo will be portraying another beloved woman in black history—Aretha Franklin. According to Variety, Erivo will be taking on the role of Franklin in National Geographic’s third season of Genius, an anthology period drama. “Aretha Franklin has been a source of inspiration for me since I was a…
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TIFF 2019: Dolemite Is My Name Is the Comeback King of Blaxploitation
You ever leave a movie feeling all warm inside due to the bubbling laughter in your tummy and pure joy in reaction to an underdog’s triumph? That movie, for me, is Dolemite Is My Name. Netflix breaks down the synopsis like so: Stung by a string of showbiz failures, floundering comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Academy…
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Ryan Coogler Just Started Writing the Black Panther 2 Story. Black Twitter: It's OK Baby, Take Your Time
All eyes are on Ryan Coogler as he prepares to embark on one of the most anticipated sequels in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal discussing upcoming Marvel projects during his final two years at Disney, CEO Bob Iger confirmed Coogler is “just beginning the process of outlining…
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Sincerely, Black Folks: Dear White People Renewed for 4th and Final Season
It’s official—Dear White People, Volume 4 is a go! Netflix confirmed that Dear White People has been renewed for a fourth season. But that’s not even the most major news—it’ll be the final season of the entire series! “I’m so grateful my little indie-that-could has made it to four seasons at Netflix!” show creator Justin…
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Mathew Knowles Reveals He Has Breast Cancer and Emphasizes the Importance of Early Detection
On Tuesday night, a sad bit of news hit the Twitter timeline as Good Morning America promoted its Wednesday morning show. Mathew Knowles sat down with the show’s co-anchor, Michael Strahan, and revealed that he has breast cancer. “I’m hoping by me coming here today, speaking out, letting folks know that you can survive this…
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First Look: Amadou Fled Mauritania and the "Highest Rate of Slavery in the Entire World" in Netflix's Living Undocumented
As we witness what appears to be an immigration crisis in America, it’s important to remember the people behind the statistics and politics. They are the people you share space with every day who often live in fear that their next moment may be their last in a country they contribute to, just because they…
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Seems Like He's Not Ready for Jail: Lawyer Complains R. Kelly Can Only Visit One of His Girlfriends at a Time
Robert “R.” Kelly wants out of jail. Naturally. Kelly’s attorney, Steven Greenberg has a couple of reasons why his client should be released, one of which happens to be Kelly’s inability to visit all of his girlfriends at once. “His visits are severely restricted; presently, he is only allowed one unrelated person to visit. In…
