Arts & Culture

Constance Wu in white shirt sits and holds hands with Gemma Chan in blue-and-white-striped shirt in front of brown beach sand and black night sky
Sameer Rao  Aug 15, 2018 4:41PM EDT

'Crazy Rich Asians' Uplifts Women As Resilient, Complex and Resolutely Human

By giving its female leads room to explore the complexities of their relationships, this Asian-led rom-com goes beyond the boundaries of its genre and centers their agency for the world to see.
Graphic showing Black woman with brown hair and gold jewelery on brown road near White woman in red hues in front of red sky and green buildings; graphic of Black woman on purple screen with gold and white text
Sameer Rao  Aug 15, 2018 3:59PM EDT

Fight Misogynoir Via the 'Kekubian Assassin' Mobile Game

Colorlines chats with “Random Acts of Flyness” producer, composer and writer Nelson Mandela Nance about the new mobile game, which follows a Black woman as she successfully neutralizes racist and sexist threats to her well-being.
Kenan Thompson in black vest and black and red and white plaid shirt in front of black wall with white and red and blue text
Sameer Rao  Aug 15, 2018 12:53PM EDT

'SNL' Vet Kenan Thompson Talks TV Comedy Evolution

The new Emmy nominee—and longest performer in “SNL” history—discusses his career and the show’s slow work in increasing Black representation in a new profile.
Kelly Lytle-Hernandez in blue patterned shirt and black glasses and white pants leans on grey metal handrail in front of white wall and brown floor with multicolored paint
Sameer Rao  Aug 14, 2018 5:45PM EDT

These Storytellers of Color Just Earned American Book Awards

The 39th cohort of awardees features several novelists, scholars, poets and other literary figures whose works interrogate race in America’s history and present.
Painting of "Black Panther" cast in multicolored clothing against blue sky on red and gold carpet
Sameer Rao  Aug 14, 2018 5:29PM EDT

How Fans Created The First Ever Wakandacon

Black storytellers successfully envisioned what Wakanda—a futuristic African country unencumbered by colonial baggage—could be. Then a group of “Black Panther” fans brought Wakanda to Chicago.
Cast of "Crazy Rich Asians" in multicolored dresses and suit in front of gold and green background
Sameer Rao  Aug 13, 2018 3:17PM EDT

Singaporean Critics Ask Who 'Crazy Rich Asians' Really Represents

While many Asian Americans and allies see film as a game-changer for representation, some Singaporeans feel the movie’s focus on a largely Chinese-descended economic elite ignores marginalized Asians.
Lauren Harrier with black afro raises fist in black leather jacket and sweater while seated on John David Washington with black afro in blue denim jacket and navy sweater in front of brown wall
Sameer Rao  Aug 13, 2018 1:19PM EDT

Five Must-Read Takes On 'BlacKkKlansman'

Check out what people have to say about Spike Lee’s film about the Black cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan.
Split image. In one, brown man Spike Lee wears clear glasses frames and black and white clothing on cover of red-framed Time magazine. In second, a brown man wears a white hood that covers his face, brown leather jacket and holds an Afro pick.
Kenrya Rankin  Aug 9, 2018 12:30PM EDT

READ: Spike Lee On Revisionist History and the Death of the Dog Whistle

The director talks about the relevance of his new film, “BlacKkKlansman,” whose release marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Cast and creators of "Charmed" sit on two-tiered black stage in multicolored clothing in front of purple background
Sameer Rao  Aug 7, 2018 4:23PM EDT

'Charmed' Creators, Stars Defend Reboot's Women of Color-Led Cast

“We’ve had the chance to see three White witches.”
Tessa Thompson with black dreadlocks in red blouse in front of dark grey wall with white and gold text; Ruth Negga with black cropped hair in black dress in front of black wall with yellow text
Sameer Rao  Aug 7, 2018 3:00PM EDT

Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga Star in 'Passing' Adaptation

The actresses will star as a pair of childhood friends who wrestle with the fallout of one friend passing as White.
LeBron James smiles in Black suit and turtle neck in front of white wall with black text
Sameer Rao  Aug 7, 2018 11:33AM EDT

LeBron James Spins Pundit's Insult Into Sports Activism Docuseries

Showtime’s “Shut Up and Dribble,” which counts the NBA superstar among its executive producers, will explore the history of the NBA and activism.
Green street sign with capitalized grey letters in front of grey sky
Sameer Rao  Aug 6, 2018 4:47PM EDT

See ICE's Terrifying Impact on Columbus' 'Refugee Road'

A new documentary highlights the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and xenophobic rhetoric on the Mauritanian community in Ohio’s capital city.
Beyoncé in white dress and multicolored floral head ornament in front of white sheet; Beyoncé in navy and red floral dress holding white sheet while standing on green grass in front of blue sky and green trees
Sameer Rao  Aug 6, 2018 2:44PM EDT

5 Insights From Beyoncé's Vogue Story, In Her Own Words

The superstar got real about her pregnancy, Beychella, being photographed by Tyler Mitchell for the cover and more in her story for Vogue.
Stop-motion animation of Black couple in bed with white frame pink and yellow and blue comforter on brown wood floor
Sameer Rao  Aug 6, 2018 11:21AM EDT

Watch The First Episode of 'Random Acts of Flyness' For Free

HBO made the premiere episode of Terence Nance’s surreal series, complete with segments about Black love and survival, available to stream gratis.
Sanaa Lathan with shaved head in purple blouse and navy skirt holding brown bag in front of green flowers
Sameer Rao  Aug 3, 2018 2:57PM EDT

Sanaa Lathan Seeks Hair Liberation in 'Nappily Ever After'

“My hair was a second job. Now I’m forced to focus on myself. I wonder who I’ll be.”
Rob Bonta in dark grey suit with red tie behind brown podium and in front of brown wall
Sameer Rao  Aug 3, 2018 1:52PM EDT

ICYMI: Why California's API Caucus Made Diversity in Filmmaking the Law

“We were just sick of the whitewashing.”
Archival image of Black South African women with black afros holding hands in air and smiling near taxi cabs in front of buildings
Sameer Rao  Aug 3, 2018 12:17PM EDT

Follow These Five BlackStar Film Fest Flicks After the Festival Ends

Of the many movies being screened at the annual event, here are the must sees once they open to the public.  
Henry Golding in blue shirt behind Constance Wu in green floral print robe next to Michelle Yeoh in green pyjamas in front of Jon M. Chu in white shirt surrounding table with multicolored food in front of white mansion and green trees
Sameer Rao  Aug 2, 2018 4:12PM EDT

The 'Crazy Rich Asians' Team Took a Crazy Chance on Theaters

Will their gamble work out? 
KiKi Layne in yellow shirt next to Stephan James in black and red plaid jacket and white shirt in front of grey background
Sameer Rao  Aug 2, 2018 2:57PM EDT

WATCH: 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Brings James Baldwin's Harlem to Life

Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins dropped the first trailer for his film adaptation of the novel.
Sameer Rao  Aug 2, 2018 11:51AM EDT

'The Hate U Give' Illustrator Disappointed With Movie For Casting Light-Skinned Actress

“I was hoping it would be a very Brown-skinned actress, because there’s so little opportunities in these big movies for darker-skinned actresses. I can’t fudge. That’s how I felt.”