Arts & Culture

A Latinx woman with long hair holds a microphone against a black backgtound, side view.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 24, 2019 12:30PM EDT

WATCH: New Doc Takes You Behind Scenes of AOC's Campaign

Netflix documentary “Knock Down the House” follows the grassroots campaigns of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three other women who ran for Congress in 2018.
Caron Butler. A Black man, side profile, talking while driving,
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 23, 2019 4:49PM EDT

New Documentary Explores Racism in the War on Drugs

Caron Butler’s “The Green Dream” shines a light on the devastation faced by Black and Latinx people who are criminalized for marijuana in record numbers.
A Black man stands on a stage wearing black and white with his hands outstretched.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 23, 2019 2:13PM EDT

Long-Awaited Prince Memoir Gets October Release Date

Fans will get a glimpse into the artist’s personal world via his new book, “The Beautiful Ones.”
(L to R) Ken Shima, Joe X. Jiang, Simon “Young” Tam. Black and white photograph of three Asian men side by side in suits.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 23, 2019 11:52AM EDT

The Slants Front Man Pens Artist, Activist Memoir

Simon Tam’s “Slanted: How an Asian-American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court” chronicles the fight to trademark the band’s name.
White woman faces a Latinx man with women holding flowers behind her
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 22, 2019 2:01PM EDT

'The Curse of La Llorona' Tops Box Office, Draws Criticism for Appropriation

Many criticized Warner Bros. for appropriating Latinx culture in its marketing for the film: “It heightens the fear factor around a traditional practice and commodifies and exploits our culture just to get people to see their movie.”
Three Black women hold hands in a circle outside with a farmhouse in the background.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 19, 2019 3:02PM EDT

Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Superpowers Shine in 'Fast Color'

Mbatha-Raw: “The idea that we have power within us is something that I’ve always been interested in.”
A Black teenager grasps the hands of a Black woman as a Black police officer stands behind him.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 19, 2019 1:20PM EDT

WATCH: Trailer for Ava Duvernay's 'When They See Us'

The four-part limited Netflix series about the Central Park Five stars a slew of esteemed actors, including Michael K. Williams and John Leguizamo.
A Black woman on stage with many black dancers and back-up singers surrounding her.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 18, 2019 3:41PM EDT

Femme It Forward Concerts Showcase Female Empowerment

The “multi-format” event series features Cardi B, Teyana Taylor and City Girl onstage and behind the scenes. 
Tow Black women embrace surrounded by a crowd
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 18, 2019 1:45PM EDT

Beyoncé Pens Moving Essay On Michelle Obama for Time's '100 Most Influential People'

“She resembled us and was moving in spaces where, as Black Americans, we weren’t exactly meant to be,” the pop icon wrote about Obama. 
Lorraine Hansberry. Black-and-white image of Black woman in checkered shirt leaning on typewriter in front of lamp and artwork on walls
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 17, 2019 3:28PM EDT

Peabody Awards Honors Documentary Films on Dolores Huerta, Lorraine Hansberry

Skateboarding film “Minding the Gap” also snagged a win.
Bright green marijuana leaves
Shani Saxon  Apr 16, 2019 4:53PM EDT

Marijuana Doc 'Grass Is Greener' Highlights War on Black and Latinx Communities

Fab 5 Freddy’s directorial debut explores the history of weed in the United States, including its criminalization and impact on music.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 16, 2019 2:01PM EDT

Pulitzers Honor Work of Three Black Icons

Aretha Franklin wins a history-making honor, and works that explore the lived experiences of Frederick Douglass and Alain Locke snag the coveted prize.
A Black Woman with long brands stands in front of a black couch with words behind her on a red wall .
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 15, 2019 1:21PM EDT

Jemele Hill Launches New Podcast With Spotify

“Jemele Hill is Unbothered” will feature interviews and unapologetic commentary on sports, politics and culture. 
Asian Man with glasses and white baseball hat plays the cello with a brige and body of water behind him.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 15, 2019 12:02PM EDT

Yo-Yo Ma Performs at Border: 'Build Bridges, Not Walls'

Said the celebrated cellist during his performance at the U.S.-Mexico border: “A country is not a hotel and it’s not full.”
A Black man turned to the side wearing a blue blazer and black sunglasses with a light beard stands in front
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 12, 2019 12:01PM EDT

Chicago Sues Jussie Smollet for Money Spent on Investigation

The civil suit seeks roughly $130,000 plus legal fees, which is the maximum amount allowed by law. 
Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. Large sepia-tone image of Henson's face in profile, color image of Rockwell's full body in a tan jacket and denim shirt, smoking a cigarette
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 11, 2019 5:25PM EDT

On 'The Best of Enemies': Hollywood Must Stop Using Black People as Narrative Devices

Tambay Obenson writes that the film relegates Black people to “supporting roles in their own fight for freedom and recognition.”
Two young Latinnx women, one wearing braces, sit side by side.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 11, 2019 1:38PM EDT

Study and Roundtable Explore How Latinx Community Experiences Colorism

Those with darker skin are more likely to say they’ve been discriminated against, drawing a line directly to race.
Ava DuVernay. A Black woman with long hair stands in front of a green and white background wearing red lipstick.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 10, 2019 1:34PM EDT

Ava Duvernay Uses Clips From '13th' to Explain the Southern Strategy to Black Conservative

“A Black woman spouting revisionist history about pain suffered by Black people,” wrote DuVernay, is proof that “the Southern Strategy succeeded in many ways.”
A gold pillow that reads "Amazon," on a couch with other similarly hued pillows around.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 10, 2019 12:59PM EDT

Amazon Film Fest Wants to Give a Director of Color $25K

The Amazon Film Festival seeks to highlight the work of artists pushed to the margins.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. A Black man with a blue jacket and gray beard stands outside with green lawn behind him.
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 9, 2019 4:01PM EDT

Henry Louis Gates Explores Reconstruction Via New Docuseries and Book

“Reconstruction: America After the Civil War” begins with the exuberant hope that accompanied the end of the war and ends with the hard realities of Jim Crow.