Culture

Museum executive order threatening the National Museum of African American History and Culture represents just one front in a draconian administration’s sweeping power grab. While the NMAAHC faces institutional constraints in presenting the “unvarnished truth” of America’s complex history, Black Americans understand this challenge is not unprecedented. Rather than responding with predictable outrage, we employ familiar strategic plans that have led to past victories like Brown v. Board of Education. As Beyoncé reclaims country music’s Black roots in “Cowboy Carter” and communities unite through “Boots on the Ground” line dancing, we demonstrate that Black history exists beyond museum walls, in our collective memory, strategic organizing, and cultural expressions that will continue to shape America regardless of who occupies the White House.
Read More

by Linda Jones, The Emancipator

During uncertain and stressful times, joy can seem like a distant memory or something to be put on hold until life improves. But …
Read More

Roberta Flack, the iconic singer and pianist whose soulful voice and gifted piano playing defined an era, crafted a legacy steeped in musical brilliance, cultural significance, and authenticity. Flack’s artistry …
Read More

The Baldwin-Buckley debate took center stage as New York City’s Town Hall became a stage for history, music, and moral reckoning with The Tongue & The Lash, a …
Read More

Kendrick Lamar’s performance was a masterful use of the medium—the Super Bowl stage, one of the most hyper-commercialized, widely viewed platforms in American culture—to deliver a message that transcended mere …
Read More

In ‘Black Liturgies,’ thoughts and prayers we can actually use

by Adeline Gutierrez Nunez, The Emancipator

Growing up in my Dominican household, I heard it all. “Don’t go …
Read More

At the intersection of art and activism, two remarkable women have emerged as champions of tranquility and repose for Black women. With her evocative and thought-provoking paintings, Danielle Mckinney and …
Read More

Fellow Travelers, a Showtime© series exploring the challenges queer individuals faced during McCarthyism, featured a pivotal scene. Journalist Marcus Hooks, portrayed by Jelani Aladdin, encounters the drag performer Frankie (Noah …
Read More

Regarding art, certain creators emerge as enduring wellsprings of inspiration, and Charles White unquestionably finds his place among this illustrious pantheon. Born in 1918, White overcame formidable adversity and discrimination …
Read More

On this anniversary of the landmark Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling, we commemorate the courageous girls who played pivotal roles in desegregating America’s schools. Their stories, while inspiring, …
Read More