representation matters
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‘The Pink Wave’: The Dems Took Back the House—Thanks to a Record Number of Women Candidates
There might’ve been a blue surge during the 2018 midterm elections, but the “wave” Democrats were predicting turned out to be, in the words of some, decidedly pink. A record-breaking number of women ran for elected office this term and made history when at least 100 of them (at last count) won the congressional seats…
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A Year of Diversity: Edward Enninful Celebrates His 1st Anniversary at the Helm of British Vogue
When veteran stylist and creative director Edward Enninful took the helm at British Vogue last December, he became the first black editor in its 101-year history. He promised readers “an old friend with a fresh face; a modern refresh that feels feminine, chic and ultimately classic.” As he wrote in his first editor’s letter for…
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New and Next: Your Bimonthly Black Magazine Cover Roundup Is Here!
What’s this, you ask? Oh, just another crop of black girl magical magazine covers for fall. In fact, there have been so many since September’s record-breaking number that we’ve decided it’s best to just round them up twice monthly, to keep you up to date on who’s covering us. Our last check-in was a mere…
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Forces of Fashion: Zendaya, Iman, Paloma Elsesser and Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Designer Talk Impact
Who are the forces in fashion today? According to Vogue, they include Zendaya, supermodels Iman and Paloma Elsesser, and Meghan Markle, whose style profile has only risen since her May wedding, where her Claire Waight Keller-designed dress sparked bridal trends we’ll be seeing well into 2019. All of the above (minus Markle) were present at…
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Changing Colors: For Fall, Fashion Continues to Celebrate Black Beauty
It wasn’t just a phase. After years of being relegated to the inner pages and being told that covers featuring black women don’t sell, the fashion industry finally seems to be taking the plunge into parity, featuring more and more black women on its covers. In the past week alone, we’ve featured Kerry Washington covering…
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It’s a Wrap! Urbanworld Closes Its 22nd Year With a Very Promising Slate of Fall Films
Collaboration, innovation and the power of women—these were recurrent themes at the 2018 Urbanworld Film Festival, which brought unseen gems, highly-anticipated box office hits, and established and up-and-coming filmmakers and talents from all over the world together for five incredible days in New York City. The week, which opened with the Tiffany Haddish and Kevin…
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Color of Change: Remember the Outcry Over Princess Tiana's Makeover in Wreck-It Ralph 2? Disney Listened!
You know, we relish every opportunity to use our powers for good, so we were thrilled to hear that an article we published last month helped influence some very positive change at Disney, one of the world’s oldest, largest and most revered movie studios (and self-proclaimed creators of “the happiest place on Earth,” Disneyland). After…
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Still Waiting for a Seat at the Table: What's It Really Like to Be Black in the Fashion Industry?
It was a telling moment: In late July, Eva Chen, director of fashion partnerships at Instagram, posted a photo of the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund judges’ table—and there was not one black face in sight. As reported by Refinery 29: Seated at a long table were 10 judges with the future…
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Ready for Their Closeup: What Crazy Rich Asians Means to the People Who Made It
Director Jon M. Chu thought he was done with crying over Crazy Rich Asians. In an interview with The Root, Chu divulged that he and the movie’s cast and crew “cried almost every day on set.” The history-making film is only one of a handful of Hollywood films to boast an all-Asian cast, and is…
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LeBron James Praised Black Women and Saltine Americans Are Predictably Upset
You can pretty much set your watch to it at this point. A certain contingent of white people is once against incensed at LeBron James. Disgusted. Siiiiiiuuuuck with rage. The reason? LeBron James had the nerve, the gall, the appalling lack of shame to show love to black women on his Instagram account Wednesday. In…