Black Excellence
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Monica Shares the Importance of Friendship at the VMAs
We all know at least one person who is able to be friends with everyone they come in contact with. If there’s a major life event, then this person is readily available to attend and, if they can’t make it, they’ll show their support in some other way. These people usually possess a magnetic personality…
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Citing a Shortage of Black Doctors, Career Mechanic Becomes One at Age 47: 'You Can Do it, This is Totally Possible'
Representation matters. It’s much more than a mere catchphrase devised to disrupt the status quo, it’s a rallying cry in our quest to survive in a world constructed to malign and subjugate us. It’s also a reminder that manifests every time a black child believes they don’t belong, or that their aspirations are unrealistic, as…
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New Barack Obama Statue Includes a Surprise Dose of Black Girl Magic
I’ve never spent a day of my life in South Dakota, but artist James Van Nuys just provided compelling incentive to do so. On Saturday, the 64-year-old sculptor revealed the latest addition to Rapid City’s City of Presidents project—a life-size sculpture of our forever President Barack Obama. KOTA reports that the bronze sculpture, which took…
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Jaden Smith Really Is an Icon Living: Debuts Free Vegan Food Truck for the Homeless in Los Angeles
While Jaden Smith has enjoyed plenty of box office and Billboard success, it’s his benevolence and giving heart that his fans truly adore. According to the Hollywood Reporter, on Monday, the “Icon” rapper unveiled I Love You Restaurant, a vegan food truck that will provide free meals to the homeless of downtown Los Angeles. The…
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Ta-Nehisi Coates Named Apollo Theater’s Inaugural Artist-in-Residence
On Monday, the Apollo Theater announced that Ta-Nehisi Coates—the critically acclaimed writer who recently presented his case for reparations during a riveting Congressional testimony—has been named its inaugural Artist-in-Residence. According to a statement provided to The Root, Coates will kick off his residency on Sept. 23 with the launch of his national book tour for…
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Duchess, Meet Queen? Beyoncé and Meghan Markle May Meet at The Lion King’s London Premiere
They’re two of the world’s most famous women (with equally famous husbands), are both working moms, share a few famous friends and both even sport royal titles (albeit one slightly more official than the other). But have Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Queen Bey ever met? If so, that’s a photo op we’re sorry…
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Director Kenny Leon and Danielle Brooks Bring Blackness to Shakespeare in the Park
As actor Danielle Brooks sings and shines as Beatrice in director Kenny Leon’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, the director can’t help but feel pride in his vision of staging an all-black production in the famed Shakespeare in the Park coming to fruition. Running through this final weekend on June 23 in New York City,…
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Otis Williams of The Temptations Weighs in on Hitting the Great White Way, His Mortality, and Patti LaBelle’s Big Lie
Otis Williams is on a roll. The founder and only original surviving member of legendary Motown group The Temptations is basking in the glory of seeing the fruits of his labor pay off with a hit Broadway musical, and recent induction into the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame. “I never would have imagined this when…
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Ain't Nothing to It…Boss: It's Official, Jay-Z Is a Billionaire
Big pimpin’, spendin’ cheese—but more more importantly, big pimpin’, makin’ cheese. A billion slices, in fact. At the end of 2018, Forbes announced Jay-Z as the richest musician. Now, Forbes is officially giving him a label many believed was coming soon: he’s a billionaire. The financial site is “conservatively” giving the rapper a $1 billion…
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1st Ever Black Student Body President Elected at Yale University
Yale University was founded in 1701 and is the third-oldest institute of higher learning in the United States. It is one of the nine Colonial Colleges, founded prior to the United States becoming a sovereign nation following the American Revolution. In its 318-year history, the college has never had a black student body president—until now.…