Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude

social justice

Beauty + Style

Oprah Magazine Pays Tribute to Breonna Taylor With Solo Cover: ‘We Can’t Be Silent.’

For the past 20 years, the cover of O, The Oprah Magazine has served as a glossy, aspirational testimonial to the powers of manifestation: reading lists and reviews, career hacks, advice dispelled by all manner of gurus and girlbosses. And always, there was Oprah herself: beaming, often stately, always joyous. Until now. Oprah Winfrey announced…

By

Anne Branigin

Published

July 30, 2020
Entertainment, Music

13-Year-Old Keedron Bryant's Visual for Viral Song 'I Just Wanna Live' Is a Strong Contender for Video of the Year

Whether through sheer creativity or by amplifying a moment or a movement, music videos used to mean something and make you feel something. I crave the days of yore when I’d rush home off of the school bus in order to watch MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) or BET’s 106 & Park. I was eager…

By

J'na Jefferson

Published

July 29, 2020
Criminal Justice, News

After Two Years of ‘Relentless’ Community Organizing, St. Louis’ Oldest and Most Notorious Jail Is Closing

For more than a century, no other institution in St. Louis spoke to the criminalization of the poor and marginalized like the “Workhouse,” a jail notorious for housing people unable to pay their bail in deplorable conditions. Now, thanks to the diligent work of local organizers, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously voted earlier…

By

Anne Branigin

Published

July 28, 2020
Criminal Justice, News, Social Justice

The Defense of Black Lives Must Include Disability Justice

In the fight for racial justice and true liberation, if one of us is not free, none of us are. From fighting for justice in the LGBTQ+ community to fighting for women’s rights, it is important to fight for everyone if we are going to build a truly just and equitable America. One group that…

By

Color Of Change

Published

July 27, 2020
News

California State University to Require Students to Take Ethnic Studies or Social Justice Classes in Order to Graduate

Marking the first major change to its curriculum in over four decades, California State University will now require students to take classes on ethnic studies or social justice in order to graduate. ABC News reports, the school’s Board of Trustees approved the measure on Wednesday. With 23 campuses, Cal State is one of the largest…

By

Joe Jurado

Published

July 24, 2020
Entertainment, Social Media

Keke Palmer's Growing Activism Didn't Play a Role in Her Talk Show's Cancellation

Keke Palmer is responding to rumors that Strahan, Sara & Keke—her daytime talk show on ABC alongside Michael Strahan and Sara Haines—was canceled due to the 26-year-old’s growing visibility in the activism space. Palmer took a screengrab of a meme about the situation and commented on it via Instagram. “Ain’t it weird how Keke Palmer…

By

J'na Jefferson

Published

July 21, 2020
Culture, Sports

The NFL Will Play 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' Before All Week 1 Games. This Is A Very Bad Idea

Since the NFL recently discovered that most of its players are Black and that maybe racism is a thing, they’ve been doing shit. And there’s nothing worse than a formerly wrong motherfucker with a newfound desire to do right. For example, we all know former knuckleheads who find Jesus and then beat you over the…

By

Panama Jackson

Published

July 3, 2020
Entertainment

John Legend Discusses Hollywood's Social and Moral Responsibilities (and His Verzuz Two-Step) With The Root

Ahead of Sunday’s 2020 BET Awards, the network’s annual ceremony celebrating the best in Black culture, nominee John Legend sat down with The Root to discuss some hot-button topics. The EGOT winner is up for “Best Collaboration” and “Video of the Year” honors for “Higher,” his song with DJ Khaled and the late Nipsey Hussle.…

By

J'na Jefferson

Published

June 26, 2020
News

George Floyd Laid to Rest in Houston, Following Weeks of Protests Calling for Racial Justice and an End to Police Brutality

After several memorials that took place over six days in Minneapolis and North Carolina and weeks of nationwide and global protests fueled by his death, George Floyd was laid to rest Tuesday following a private funeral held at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston, where he grew up. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced during…

By

Joe Jurado

Published

June 9, 2020
Criminal Justice, News, Social Justice

Music Industry Heavyweights Sign Open Letter to Repeal New York State Statute That Keeps Police Misconduct Records Private

Rihanna, Nas, and Megan Thee Stallion are a few of the hundreds of musicians who signed an open letter addressed to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie regarding the repeal of state statute 50-A. For those who aren’t familiar, 50-A is a decades-old law…

By

J'na Jefferson

Published

June 9, 2020