Arts & Culture

Janelle Monáe. Black-and-white image of Black woman in black and white performance attire playing white guitar behind black-and-white microphone stand in front of white lights.
Sameer Rao  Feb 11, 2019 12:50PM EST

Your Favorite Artists of Color Won Big at the Grammys

See Janelle Monáe, Childish Gambino and other performers and victors rule the awards ceremony—even in their absence. 
A White model wears a black sweater that comes over her mouth, surrounding it with red lips.
G. B. Saunders  Feb 8, 2019 6:12PM EST

The Real Cost of Being the POC 'In the Room' Required to Shut Down Obviously Racist Products

A common response to failed products like the Gucci blackface sweater is that there should have been a Black person “in the room” to save the company from marketing racism. We need to talk what it takes to get into that room and the cost of staying there. 
Jordan Peele and Spike Lee. Black man in red blazer and white shirt and pants poses next to Black man in black hat and red and black jacket in front of darkly lit background.
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2019 4:49PM EST

Jordan Peele and Spike Lee Talk Black Film

The producer and director of “BlacKkKlansman” look beyond awards season to a bright future for Black screen artists.
Aaron McGruder. Black man smiles in black blazer and t-shirt with multicolored logo in front of white wall with black text that spells "The New York Times"
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2019 2:58PM EST

ICYMI: Aaron McGruder Resurrects 'The Boondocks' Just in Time

Huey, Riley, Robert and Ruckus take on the presidential administration’s racist policies, Russian subterfuge and R. Kelly.
Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton and Nicola Yoon. Asian and Indigenous man in navy suit and white shirt sits next to Black woman in blue dress, both with black hair, in front of teal background and under yellow text that spells "THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR"
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2019 11:23AM EST

Young Love Battles Deportation in Trailer for 'The Sun is Also a Star'

Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton bring Nicola Yoon’s bestselling novel to life.
Gold text spells "GUCCI" on glass background reflecting blue sky on brown building.
Sameer Rao  Feb 7, 2019 2:28PM EST

Gucci Pulls Blackface Sweater From Site, Shelves

The fashion house thought a Black knit top with bright red lips would sell well during Black History Month. Social media users disagreed. Emphatically.
Nelson Makamo and Cicely Tyson. Greyscale illustration of black child in red glasses behind black text reading "TIME" and white text; Black woman in red outfit in front of red background and red text that spells "TIME" and white text
Sameer Rao  Feb 7, 2019 1:11PM EST

Ava DuVernay Guest-Edits TIME's Optimism Issue

“The national headlines were what we’ve come to expect: bigotry, poverty, injustice, trauma, trouble. I weighed my own feelings of despair and doubt against the idea of reveling in an experience dedicated to optimism. The choice was easy.”
Jamila Woods. Black woman with black dredlocs in white tank top and blue denim shorts sings into black microphone on black stand in front of blue lights.
Sameer Rao  Feb 6, 2019 2:17PM EST

Jamila Woods' New Album 'LEGACY! LEGACY!' Channels Black Creatives

The Chicago singer and poet teased her second full-length record by releasing a music video for “ZORA,” named after the iconic author.
Gold Oscar statues in multiple rows on brown pedestals in front of beige and black background
Sameer Rao  Feb 6, 2019 1:20PM EST

The Oscars Won't Have a Host This Year

After Kevin Hart stepped aside from the hosting gig the Academy struggled to find a replacement.
Eva Longoria. Latinx woman with brown hair smiles in black shirt and gold jewelry in frong of woman in brown leopard-print shirt and brown scaffolding and blue curtain
Sameer Rao  Feb 6, 2019 1:00PM EST

Eva Longoria Seeks Stories Affirming Latinx Humanity

“We have to think of ourselves as more, and I want to show that on TV.”
Asian revelers march among red and yellow and white and blue decorations hanging from grey and brown city buildings
Sameer Rao  Feb 5, 2019 2:53PM EST

Lunar New Year Reads: 5 Reflections on the Year of the Pig

Read five Asian-American writers’ reflections on this auspicious day for members of their communities.
21 Savage Black man with black dredlocs and face and neck tattoos poses in orange jacket with grey hood in front of green shrubbery.
Sameer Rao  Feb 5, 2019 11:27AM EST

Activists and Artists Mobilize Against 21 Savage's Deportation

“The circumstances of Mr. Abraham-Joseph’s detention stand as a testament to the consistent and historically under-reported harassment and targeting of Black immigrants,” Patrisse Cullors notes.
Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid. Illustration of two Black men in light blue jerseys raising fist and taking knee in front of yellow and orange background with other people and text that reads,"IF NOT US, WHO? IF NOT NOW, WHEN?"
Sameer Rao  Feb 4, 2019 5:11PM EST

This Artist Spent Super Bowl Halftime Painting Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid

Brandan “Bmike” Odums wanted to support the athletes’ activism against police violence during the big game. So, he made a mural.
Alfonso Cuarón. Latinx man poses with gold and black award in black and white tuxedo in front of blue wall with blue and yellow icons
Sameer Rao  Feb 4, 2019 3:55PM EST

Alfonso Cuarón Was the Only POC to Win a Directors Guild of America Award

Even the Diversity Award went to a White guy. Woof. 
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, T-Boz and Chilli of TLC. Black woman in yellow bandana and camouflage jacket next to Black woman in red bandana and shirt next to Black woman in coral shirt and brown hat in front of blue screen.
Sameer Rao  Feb 4, 2019 2:26PM EST

LISTEN: Songwriter Kandi Burruss and TLC's Chilli On How 'No Scrubs' Became a Classic

On NPR, Burruss and Thomas discuss the lasting impact of TLC’s hit song nearly two decades later.
Miles Davis. Black and white photograph of Black man smiling in multicolored striped shirt in front of trees.
Sameer Rao  Feb 1, 2019 4:19PM EST

3 Questions with 'Miles Davis' Documentarian Stanley Nelson

The filmmaker talks about his new project, “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” which explores the musician’s life and impact on Black culture.
Sojourner Truth. Illustration of Black woman in yellow shirt and green and white dress and white headwrap leading Black women in multicolored clothing in front of green shrubs and pink house and sky and white text that spells "GOOGLE."
Sameer Rao  Feb 1, 2019 12:01PM EST

Google Doodle Honors Sojourner Truth's Legacy

Loveis Wise illustrated the abolitionist for Black History Month.
Tarell Alvin McCraney. Black man in black sweater and glasses speaks into black microphone in front of brown wood and walls
Sameer Rao  Jan 31, 2019 2:31PM EST

Tarell Alvin McCraney Asks: What If Black Players Took Over the NBA?

The “Moonlight” co-writer discusses his upcoming Netflix film, “High Flying Bird.”
Emayatzy Corinealdi. Black woman in brown dress sits in brown chair in front of green sofa and brown walls and door
Sameer Rao  Jan 31, 2019 1:41PM EST

Lives Collide After Police Killing in Ava DuVernay's 'The Red Line'

Ava DuVernay produces the ensemble drama for CBS.
Chinonye Chukwu and Elaine Brown. Black-and-white images of two Black women in front of grey backgrounds in black and white clothes
Sameer Rao  Jan 31, 2019 11:46AM EST

Chinonye Chukwu to Direct Elaine Brown Biopic, 'A Taste of Power'

The former Black Panther Party leader will executive produce the adaptation of her autobiography.