Arts & Culture

Zozibini Tunzi. Black woman with short dark hair wearing a crown.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 11, 2019 11:20AM EST

Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi Continues Black Beauty's Reign Over the Pageant World

Tunzi: “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered beautiful. I think it is time that stops today.” 
Harvard University. Fall campus.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 10, 2019 1:57PM EST

Widespread Protests Over Harvard's Tenure Decision for Latinx Professor

bell hooks: “Harvard’s denial of Dr. García Peña’s tenure is a testament to the ways that Black and Latinx Studies continue to be ignored as sites of vital knowledge production in the academy.”
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 10, 2019 11:36AM EST

CAIR Calls for the Removal of White Supremacist Books

The civil rights organization has put Amazon, Google, AudioBooks and Barnes & Noble on blast for not pulling racist materials from their digital shelves.
Solnage Knowles. Black woman with long hair wearing snake print outfit while holding a snake.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 9, 2019 5:10PM EST

Solange Receives Lena Horne Prize for Artists Creating Social Impact

The honor is the first major entertainment award named after a woman of color that recognizes excellence at the intersection of arts and activism.
"When They See Us." Young Black man with flat top getting mug shot taken.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 9, 2019 4:31PM EST

Golden Globes Noms Ignore Projects Centering People of Color

A few actors of color received recognition for their roles, but Ava DuVernay’s series “When They See Us” was notably shut out—and fans aren’t feeling it.
Black Power Naps. Art installation featuring beds and curtains.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 6, 2019 12:12PM EST

Art Installation Hopes to Give People of Color Reparations Through Rest

Navild Acosta on his “Black Power Naps/Siestas Negras”: “The sleep gap is really inherited generational trauma. It is living in our bones.”
Raphael Saadiq. Black man wearing black fedora dressed in black studded jacket and black sunglasses.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 6, 2019 10:58AM EST

WATCH: Raphael Saadiq Plays NPR's Tiny Desk

The singer returns to the concert series, accompanied by Lucky Daye, for the first time in 10 years.
Alfre Woodard and Jamie Foxx. A middle-aged Black woman with brown curly hair and Black man with short hair cut.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 5, 2019 2:41PM EST

Alfre Woodard and Jamie Foxx On Playing Roles Set In Prisons

Foxx: “The reason I don’t want to go see somebody in jail is because I don’t want to get used to that.”
Plantation Wedding. White woman in wedding dress on steps of white house.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 5, 2019 12:11PM EST

Top Wedding Sites Will Stop Promoting Slave Plantations

Color of Change: “If we were talking about concentration camps, it would be weird and disrespectful and egregious for folks to be seeking to have their weddings at these locations.”

 
John Leguizamo.Latinx man wearing black hat and vest and blue shirt holding up comic books.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 4, 2019 1:12PM EST

John Leguizamo Introduces New Latinx Superhero in Comic Book 'PhenomX'

“I’m making this with the Latinx community.”
Gabrielle Union. Black woman with chin-length bob wearing sparkly top.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Dec 3, 2019 12:52PM EST

Gabrielle Union Working To Change Culture on 'America's Got Talent'

After accusing the show of discrimination and bias, the star is now focused on making things better for future judges and contestants. 
Will Ferrell. White man dressed as a Native American sitting at a dinner table.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 25, 2019 2:01PM EST

WATCH: 'Saturday Night Live' Parodies the 'First Thanksgiving'

SNL addresses colonization, immigration and racism in a sketch that includes no actual Native Americans.
Six men wearing different colored shirts sitting at a long wooden table outside, talking.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 25, 2019 1:37PM EST

'College Behind Bars' Spotlights Fight For Education

The new PBS documentary follows 12 incarcerated people as they win national debates and work to earn college degrees.
Bikram Choudhury. Indian man in yoga classroom giving instructions to practitioner, wearing black underwear.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 22, 2019 11:37AM EST

Hot Yoga Founder Bikram Choudhury Comes Under Fire in New Doc

“Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator” explores how Choudhury created a multi-dollar empire—and was accused of emotionally and sexually abusing his followers.
Toni Morrison. Black woman with gray hair standing behind podium wearing colorful dress.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 22, 2019 11:21AM EST

Toni Morrison Memorialized By More Than 3,000

Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis and Ta-Nehisi Coates honored the literary icon at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Anita Hill. Older Black woman with gray hair and glasses holding microphone.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 21, 2019 4:05PM EST

Anita Hill's Hollywood Commission Launches Harassment Survey

The industry-wide survey will ask people working in the entertainment industry to anonymously share their experiences dealing with sexual harassment and abuse.
Jussie Smollet. Black man wearing dark suit with sunglasses surrounded by media.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 21, 2019 1:44PM EST

Jussie Smollett Countersues City of Chicago for 'Extreme Emotional Distress'

The city sued Smollett in April seeking reimbursement for its investigation into the alleged racist and homophobic attack on the actor.
The 1619 Project. Dark stage with Black woman standing at red podium.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 20, 2019 3:13PM EST

The 1619 Project to Become Multi-Book Series

The extensive project that marked the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia will be expanded into several books, including a graphic novel.
“We Never Asked Permission.” Illustration of Black woman braiding hair of another.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 20, 2019 2:48PM EST

Trans Day of Resilience Celebrates Beauty and Resistance of Trans People of Color

Forward Together’s annual project features 10 transgender and gender nonconforming artists who created art around their visions for trans freedom.
Margaret Cho. Korean American woman wearing orange top holding microphone in front of sign reading "The Ice House."
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  Nov 19, 2019 2:36PM EST

Margaret Cho On Racism and Inclusion in Comedy

“I think there’s still some way to go in terms of diversity.”