“The madness of this course, we believe, is admitted now, even by England; but, we fear the lesson is wholly lost on our present rulers.” These words by Frederick Douglass are in his Fourth of July speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” that he gave on July 5, 1852. 173 years […]
Fireworks without Freedom Read More »
Garnette Cadogan on the Realities of Being Black in America By Garnette Cadogan “My only sin is my skin. What did I do, to be so black and blue?” –Fats Waller, “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue?” “Manhattan’s streets I saunter’d, pondering.” –Walt Whitman, “Manhattan’s Streets I Saunter’d, Pondering” My love for walking started
Walking While Black Read More »
Small-business owners and sneaker enthusiasts are equally upset about the increase in costs. Cool Kicks, a sneaker store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, in 2023. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images file By Curtis Bunn Devlin Carter created his luxury sneaker company, SIA Collective, six years ago and built it into a
Sneaker designers, retailers and collectors brace for Trump’s tariffs Read More »
With all the noise on social media, where does Black love really stand? We dive into the data to look at how it’s holding on, and evolving, today. By Nandi Howard This story is featured in the January/February 2025 issue of ESSENCE. The State of Black Marriage Black love and marriage have always been cornerstones of resilience and identity
The Surprising Truth About Black Love, By The Numbers Read More »
Revolutionary People’s Party Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, September 1970. Photo: David Fenton Black Women’s Month Special DUE TO POPULAR WHITE NARRATIVES ABOUT THE BLACK FREEDOM MOVEMENT, WE THINK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1970S AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS FRAMING IS THAT WHITE
Black Women Voices from the Black Freedom Movement in the 1960s Read More »
Aïsha Dabo, coordinator and co-founder of the programs at the pan-African organization Africtivistes By Rédaction Africanews and Pascale Mahé Keingna China and Russia are expanding their influence in Africa. How can this be explained? How are African governments responding, and how can civil society engage with these issues? Africanews speaks with Aïsha Dabo, coordinator and
Aïsha Dabo: Africans Want Their Leaders to Represent Their Interests Read More »
Emancipation from stereotypes requires a collective commitment by Africans to see each other as multifaceted, evolving individuals rather than static, preconceived notions Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike Chika Esiobu Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, recenlty declared in an interview that he is not Igbo but Ikwerre. This
To Be Igbo or Not to Be? : Coercing Identity and Unburdening Prejudice Read More »
Remembering the First Political Prisoner of the Ferguson Movement “I want you to chant Free Sundiata, I want you to chant Free Mumia, Free Leonard Peltier and so on. I want you to chant the names of every political prisoner still behind the walls.” These are the words of freedom fighter and revolutionary Assata Shakur
Freedom Sacrifices #FreeJosh Read More »
Aria Springfield, museum educator at the National Constitution Center, talks about one of the exhibits honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman. — TRIBUNE PHOTO / ABDUL SULAYMAN By Sherry Stone TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER The phenomenal courage of one Black woman who led slaves to freedom will be honored across the nation Monday on National Harriet Tubman Day.
Special Exhibit of Abolitionist Harriet Tubman at National Constitution Center Read More »
BRIAN SNYDER | CNS A man pays his respects outside Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. Nine Black people were shot to death by white supremacist Dylann Roof at an evening Bible study inside the church June 17, 2015. The 2015 mass shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church was
10 years after massacre, time for ‘healthy tension’ on race Read More »
