Arts & Culture

Sammy Davis Jr. Black-and-white photograph of Black man in suit with black tie and white shirt staring at hands in front of curtain.
Sameer Rao  Feb 20, 2019 5:04PM EST

WATCH: Doc Illuminates Sammy Davis Jr.'s Place in Black America

“Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me” explores the late entertainer’s struggles with stardom and his role in an evolving Black America. 
Buffy Sainte-Marie. Indigenous woman with black hair in black leather jacket and shirt and scarf performs behind black microphone and stand and in front of grey curtain under red lights.
Sameer Rao  Feb 20, 2019 4:50PM EST

Celebrate Buffy Sainte-Marie's Birthday With These 5 Career Highs

The artist and philanthropist, whose work uplifts Indigenous cultural resistance, turns 78 today.
Fred Hampton. Black-and-white photograph of Black man in black hat and jacket in front of white flag with black text and black and white building.
Sameer Rao  Feb 19, 2019 4:53PM EST

Ryan Coogler to Produce Fred Hampton Biopic

Daniel Kaluuya is in talks to play the Black Panther Party leader.
NYC new guidelines on hair discrimination
Ayana Byrd  Feb 19, 2019 3:12PM EST

New York City Says Businesses Can't Discriminate Based on Hair

Not only can the city force companies to rehire employers who were let go due to this racial discrimination, but it can also levy penalties up to $250,000.
Ava DuVernay. Black woman with black locs in red blouse and black skirt speaks behind glass podium with black sign with red and yellow panels and black text that spells "COLOR OF CHANGE" and video screen.
Sameer Rao  Feb 19, 2019 1:55PM EST

LISTEN: New Podcast Demands We #TellBlackStories

Color of Change talks to Ava DuVernay, Stanley Nelson and other artists about shifting narratives around Blackness.
Black text spells "LikeWise Fiction" in front of white background and inside of rectangular blue border.
Sameer Rao  Feb 15, 2019 2:08PM EST

'LikeWise Fiction' Podcast Will Showcase Short Stories by Marginalized People

Michael Sakasegawa is crowdfunding for a new audio compilation of short fiction from writers like José Pablo Iriarte and Esmé Weijun Wang. 
R. Kelly. Black woman with black dredlocs stands in black coat and holds white protest sign with black text that spells "#MuteRKelly" and image of Black man in black sunglasses and hat and shirt.
Sameer Rao  Feb 15, 2019 12:00PM EST

New Video May Lead to Indictment Against R. Kelly

The video, which attorney Michael Avenatti says he handed to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, allegedly shows the singer sexually abusing a teenage girl.
Black-and-white image of Black woman in dress kissing Black man in overcoat in front of curtain.
Sameer Rao  Feb 14, 2019 4:46PM EST

Celebrate Valentine's Day With 120 Years of Black Love

Shadow and Act compiled 60 seconds of clips, from 1898 to 2018, that show the power of Black intimacy and romance on screen.
Jussie Smollett. Black man in grey suit with light purple tie in front of purple and blue wall with white text that reads "blackaids."
Sameer Rao  Feb 14, 2019 3:01PM EST

Jussie Smollett Opens Up About Traumatic Assault

The “Empire” star spoke to “Good Morning America” about the racist and homophobic assault he survived in Chicago—and the people who question his honesty.
Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira. Three Black women in grey, black and white dresses smile while holding green award statues in front of grey background with black text.
Sameer Rao  Feb 14, 2019 1:02PM EST

'Black Panther' Earns Whopping 14 NAACP Image Award Noms

Several of your other favorite film and television projects also made the cut.
Joe Four Horns. Indigenous boy with black hair poses in front of black background.
Sameer Rao  Feb 13, 2019 4:39PM EST

Documentary Uncovers Delayed Justice for Sexually Abused Indigenous Boys

“Predator on the Reservation” documents an investigation into the institutional failure that allowed Dr. Stanley Weber to allegedly assault boys on Native American reservations.
21 Savage. Black man with black dredlocs holds fist in air while wearing navy hoodie with white drawstrings and rainbow accents in front of purple and orange lights.
Sameer Rao  Feb 13, 2019 12:15PM EST

21 Savage Released From ICE Custody

The rapper’s attorneys joined activists and musical collaborators in demanding ICE release him and halt deportation proceedings.
Tourmaline, Charlene Carruthers, Miss Major, Alicia Garza and Barbara Smith. Black women in blue and red and orange and yellow clothing pose in various positions in front of brown wood and blue walls
Sameer Rao  Feb 12, 2019 5:30PM EST

Out Mag Celebrates Black Mothers and Daughters of the Movement

Guest editor Janet Mock spotlights five activist heroes—including Miss Major Griffin-Gracy and Alicia Garza—for Out’s March issue.
Tracy Clayton and Lynn Whitfield. Black woman wuth red hair poses in red dress in front of grey wall. Black woman with black hair poses in purple dress in front of white-gray wall.
Sameer Rao  Feb 12, 2019 4:39PM EST

Tracy Clayton's New Podcast Celebrates 'Strong Black Leads'

The co-host of “Another Round” interviews Black Hollywood royalty like Lynn Whitfield on the Netflix podcast’s first season. 
Lena Waithe and Halle Berry. Black woman in brown hat and black pants and shirt and navy and white flannel shirt sits on white chair next to Black woman in black pantsuit in White chair in front of Black man and woman and blue screen.
Sameer Rao  Feb 12, 2019 12:21PM EST

Lena Waithe and Halle Berry Update 'Boomerang' for TV

The new series follows the children of the 1992 Eddie Murphy film’s protagonists.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black-and-white photograph of Black man waving to spectators surrounding reflecting pool and green shrubs.
Sameer Rao  Feb 11, 2019 2:48PM EST

Now You Can Stream 'Eyes on the Prize' in Full for Free

Facing History and Ourselves just made the docuseries about the Civil Rights Movement—and lesson plans—available online.
Kenan Thompson. Black man in navy suit with red and gray striped tie and white shirt holds finger in front of green wall and brown painting frame.
Sameer Rao  Feb 11, 2019 1:24PM EST

Watch 'SNL' Educate Virginia Politicians About Blackface

In 2019. Still.
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. 
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.