In his last days, he was a truth seeker. And for him, the truth came in many colors...at times, in persons with the bluest of eyes and whitest of skin. He embraced his past racist words and lambasted the use of sweeping statements as an indictment against any race. He learned so that we could learn.
As part of a global community of journalists and editors who, at least in theory, strive to educate and inform, I was disgusted Thursday to come acros...
Beyoncé not only shows solidarity with black men, but also reinforces the history, or 'herstory,' of the black woman in the U.S. - which some black men with the same platform have yet to do.
As we remember Crystal, we should never forget the women (and men) who stand in the shadows as victims of domestic and intimate partner violence. Even as we know Crystal Hamilton's name, who are the others?
No, I was never bullied or called 'burnt', or compared to a monkey or a roach. I was never told by a boy that he didn't like me because of my skin color. But, being told by people that I wasn't black or I wasn't black enough took a different toll on me.
Black Twitter, this is to you. All of the creators, writers, advocators, entertainers, bloggers, millennials, reporters, POC, contributors, gif makers, photoshop masterminds, to all of you I say thank you. You created a movement that is far from being over, and I am forever grateful.
Everything Black and Brown folks do is excellent because it's a feat to persist in a country and indeed a world that benefits, profits, and necessitates your oppression, your incarceration.
There has long been a concern for the lives and future of Black people, but recently Black Lives Matter has been successful in leveraging the issue to mainstream media and prioritizing accountability.
I was disappointed in myself for being so unaware of the many contributions that went far beyond the usual sports and entertainment arenas into every facet of American culture. I needed to open my eyes to a larger, grander, American history.
Affordable healthy food is an issue of both equity and justice that disproportionally affects working-class and poor people of color in cities and rural areas. Reducing the economic necessity for some to rely so heavily on food that is unhealthy is not only a tool for fighting health concerns. There are other benefits too.
When we consider the terrible legacy of slavery, the travesty of the Jim Crow era, and the continuing struggle for women's rights, it is striking to note that even before the civil rights movement of the 1960s, a number of black women became successful businesswomen.
We are at a pivotal moment in culture - a time where the entire country is opening its eyes and having a fierce but surprisingly open dialogue about things that matter to us. The way in which we finish this decade, and even this year will have a resounding impact on the way Blackness is perceived and accepted in the future.
The only thing I'm currently interested in being as a black lesbian is being free--free from police harassment, free from white supremacy and free from fear-- and yet these seemingly auspicious desires feel like they are slipping away from me with each terrible headline I read.
It's telling that America is still grappling with many of the same racial inequities and injustices that it did 50 years ago - and that Black pride remains a controversial topic. Not so to renowned scholar, activist and feminist icon and close associate of the Black Panthers Angela Y. Davis.
He has the best racial justice platform of any presidential candidate -- but every part of his platform helps African-Americans.
The work to free Black political prisoners is the work to free us all, and it continues, even as we lift up every victory achieved along the way. Which we should do because it's these victories that provide us the will to go on when our backs are weary and our hearts are taxed.
Although the Black National Anthem is a musical reflection of Black hardship and perseverance, there is another important message within the lyrics that is often overlooked. The lyrics to the song say "Lift EVERY voice and sing." Not just BLACK voices, not just WHITE voices, but EVERY voice.
In honor of Black History Month, I spoke with Johnetta Elzie, also known as Netta, one of the leaders in the activist group We The Protestors. My hope is that this series with be able to inspire black girls like myself by providing stories, advice, and emotional honesty from successful women.
While Lamar's in-depth artistry has rendered him to be, by many, one of the most prolific hip-hop artists of our time, it is his attention to grander, global narratives and how he so eloquently bridges the gap between historical and contemporary issues which makes him stand apart from his peers in the rap game.
We have to treat black history with the same and equal reverence in which we treat the rest of American history. Black history isn't just a singular part of American history; it's a pervasive part of a vast fabric that is the American narrative. And, we cannot forget that black history is a part of the American future also.