black history
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Uzo Aduba to Portray Shirley Chisholm in FX’s Mrs. America
Black history is American history, so no one should blink an eye when a black woman’s face represents Mrs. America. And no, I’m not talking about the long-running pageant—though we’re the face of that, too—I’m talking about the upcoming FX series. According to a press release provided by FX: Mrs. America tells the story of…
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Proof of the Reality of Slavery ‘Up North’ in New York City and Its Aftermath Is in Danger of Disappearing Forever
A report just last year found that when it comes to teaching about slavery—the very economic and social foundation on which this nation was built—the U.S. does a piss poor job. As the Southern Poverty Law Center found: “Students lack a basic knowledge of the important role [slavery] played in shaping the United States and…
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Chadwick Boseman to Portray Yasuke, Japan's First African Samurai
Wakanda may be forever, but Chadwick Boseman is stepping off the throne for a minute to secure his next bag. Boseman has been cast to portray Yasuke, the first African samurai to wield a sword in Japan. Doug Miro (Narcos) will be penning the script. Per Deadline: Erik Feig’s Picturestart has teamed with Mike De…
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Preserving Evidence of the Nation’s Slave-Holding Past Can Sometimes Prove Difficult as the US Commemorates 400th Anniversary of the 1st Enslaved Africans at Jamestown, Va.
As the country this year commemorates the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans being brought to what was then the outpost of Jamestown in the colony of Virginia, history buffs and historians alike say physical evidence of the brutal trade that built this nation and of the people who fought to end it is…
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Academy Award-Nominated Filmmaker John Singleton Dead at 51
Director, screenwriter and producer John Singleton has died at the age of 51. Deadline reports the filmmaker died peacefully on Monday, surrounded by family and friends at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all…
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Star Power: Mellody Hobson and George Lucas Vie for Control of Ebony, Jet Photo Archives
Financier Mellody Hobson and her husband, Star Wars movie mogul George Lucas, are taking steps to take control of Ebony and Jet’s massive archive of historic photos, chronicling African-American life over the last seven decades. The archive is uninsured and at risk, as it was used as collateral to secure a $12 million loan to…
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Taraji P. Henson Brings Ann Atwater's Activism to Life in The Best of Enemies
It is a biblical fact that Taraji P. Henson has never been the one, and so it is fitting for her to play activist and disruptor Ann Atwater in the new film The Best of Enemies. Atwater was a civil rights activist who wasn’t here for anyone’s shit, making it her mission to make sure her…
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Colorado High School Backtracks After Allowing Students to Opt Out of Black History Month
Administrators at George Washington High School in Denver decided to reverse its policy on optional assembly attendance after parents expressed their disapproval of a letter allowing students to opt of the school’s Black History Month Program. The Denver Post reports: On Tuesday, George Washington parents were sent an emailed newsletter that referenced the school’s “African-American…
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Sweet Thang: Jordan Peele’s ‘Candyman’ Revealed
Evangelist Kimberly Jones, affectionately known as Lil’ Kim, once asked the important question, “So, how many licks does it take ‘til you get to the center of the… ?” It’s a question that deserves an answer, after the reveal of the actor who is set to play the role of “Candyman” in Jordan Peele’s new…