Legendary author, poet and actress Maya Angelou, who passed away Wednesday morning at age 86, will be remembered for her uncommon wisdom as much as for her award-winning writing. Deep insight into the African-American experience and a compassionate perspective—combined with a magical way with words—equipped her to weigh in like no other on what it…

Long before Kerry Washington started handling her business in her Emmy-nominated role as Olivia Pope, actress Cicely Tyson was doing her thing and helping to open doors for actresses like Washington. Forty years ago, Tyson became the first black woman to win an Emmy in a leading role for her performance in the miniseries The…

Who says summer reading has to be fluff? There are so many recent titles and reprinted standouts tackling the black experience—in poetry, biography and works of fiction—that even the most voracious readers can barely keep up. Pack one of these to turn a trip to the pool into an inspiring escape, and get your sun…

Memorial Day is an unofficial marker that the year is almost half over, that the bathing suit you swore you would fit into come summertime still doesn’t fit, and that your New Year’s resolution to work out every day … well, yeah, see above-mentioned bathing suit. But don’t let the gloomy blues of life get…

For many Americans, Nigeria is an enigma.  On the one hand, many Nigerian immigrants come to America and make a killing: They put their student visas to good use, gain admission to selective medical residency programs, get engineering jobs and raise first-generation African-American students who go on to attend the best universities this nation has…

A recent NPR story revealed the disturbing and shockingly racist origins of the catchy jingle played from ice cream trucks around the country. What else are we hearing—or saying—that we should know more about? These seemingly innocuous terms have questionable origins or histories related to race, and there’s probably plenty more where they came from. 1. “The…

When it was announced earlier on Wednesday that Dean Baquet would step in to replace New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson, becoming the paper’s first black executive editor, the Times’publisher declared, “There is no journalist in our newsroom or elsewhere better qualified to take on the responsibilities of executive editor at this time.” So,…

Every May we take a Sunday to honor our individual moms. But what about the women who, whether or not they have children of their own, offer the spirit of motherhood to all of us? They use their platforms to deliver a steady stream of love (sometimes tough), guidance and care. They’re nurturers, providers and…

Mother’s Day is here, and we think music should be part of your celebration of Mom. So here’s a playlist to properly get you started.  1. “Dear Mama” – Tupac Released in 1995, “Dear Mama” is considered by critics to be one of the best rap songs of all time. 2. “Grandma’s Hands” – Bill…