Media

Black women of various shades laugh in the sunlight
Ayana Byrd  Sep 17, 2018 1:13PM EDT

Sexual Health Experts on Why 'Insecure' Needs to Practice Safer Sex

With STI rates dangerously high for Black people, do TV shows have a responsibility to wrap it up?
Concert attendees stand in multicolored clothing near grey fence displaying black tarp with white text
Sameer Rao  Sep 6, 2018 4:17PM EDT

Afropunk.com Editor-in-Chief Quits, Alleges Exploitation of Staff

Lou Constant-Desportes accused organization leadership of disregarding Afropunk’s ethos of Black love and empowerment.
Black-and-white photograph of Louis E. Lomax in suit and tie in front of black background
Sameer Rao  Aug 16, 2018 5:09PM EDT

#TBT: Remembering Louis E. Lomax, America's First Black TV Newsman

Lomax broke the television news color barrier in 1958.
Chance the Rapper smiles in grey hat and blue jacket with white detail while holding silver award in front of red background with white text
Sameer Rao  Jul 19, 2018 11:35AM EDT

Chance the Rapper Purchases Chicago-Focused News Website

In his new song “I Might Need Security,” the rapper confirms that he purchased Chicagoist “just to run you racist bitches out of business.”
Black-and-white image of Ida B. Wells in black and white attire in front of grey background
Sameer Rao  Jul 16, 2018 2:30PM EDT

Celebrating Ida B. Wells On Her Birthday

Today marks the trailblazing journalist and activist’s 156th birthday. Here’s why her work still resonates through media, activism and history—and what is being done to memorialize a life well lived.
A grid of summer books with titles like "sick," "if they come for us," "we built the wall," "assata taught me," and more
catherine lizette gonzalez  Jun 29, 2018 1:10PM EDT

The Must-Read Race and Culture Books of the Summer

From memoirs to poetry to fiction, these titles will deepen your understanding of what’s going on, inspire activism and even entertain the kids.
Black woman with grey hair in green shirt speaks into black microphone in front of brown background
Sameer Rao  Jun 1, 2018 11:23AM EDT

Remember the Tulsa 'Black Wall Street' Massacre Through Its Last Known Survivor

“They tried to destroy every Black business, school and church.”
Asian woman with pink hair in front of grey background; Asian woman with black hair in front of grey background; Asian woman with blonde hair in front of grey background
Sameer Rao  May 22, 2018 2:06PM EDT

How Allure's Editor-in-Chief Made APIA Representation History

“Someone has to be the trailblazer. You have to just go ahead and do it.”
Donald Trump and Kanye West. White man with blonde hair in black and white suit and tie stands next to Black man with blonde hair in black shirt and gold necklace in front of gold and grey stone elevator and lobby walls
Sameer Rao  May 7, 2018 11:29AM EDT

The One Passage You Must Read From Ta-Nehisi Coates' Essay on Kanye West

Coates’ latest piece for The Atlantic frames the musician’s high-profile support for President Donald Trump as a quest for “White freedom.”
Black woman in yellow shirt in front of black background with red border and behind white and yellow text; Black woman in grey and blue and green dress in front of black background with red border and in front of white and grey text
Sameer Rao  Apr 19, 2018 5:21PM EDT

Tarana Burke and Tiffany Haddish Cover Time's '100 Most Influential People' Issue

The activist and actress join Issa Rae, Chloe Kim and several other people of color on this year’s list of global changemakers.
Black man with black beard and cornrows in black coat and shirt holds gold statue while walking beside Black man in black suit with blue embroidery in front of black background with pink lights
Sameer Rao  Apr 16, 2018 5:13PM EDT

Kendrick Lamar, James Forman Jr., Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah Honored With Pulitzer Prizes

This year’s winners include artists and journalists who fearlessly explored contemporary racial identity and oppression.
April Ryan. Black woman in black dress on stage behind a podium, smiles to camera.
Kenrya Rankin  Mar 28, 2018 4:45PM EDT

That Time April D. Ryan Asked Why Trump Has No Comment on Police Killing Black People

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “That’s something that we feel should be left up to the local authorities.”
Assorted book titles in a grid
catherine lizette gonzalez  Mar 16, 2018 2:34PM EDT

A Very Serious Roundup of Race-Focused Books Coming Out This Spring

Transition into spring with this cross-section of titles.
Brown girl in White dress next to Black girl in white dress in front of grey background and behind white text
Sameer Rao  Mar 13, 2018 5:09PM EDT

Critics Say National Geographic's Attempt to 'Rise Above' Its 'Racist' Past Falls Short

They argue that the magazine’s new special issue on race relies on old habits. 
Protesters in street, one sign reads, "No racist USA, #Charlottesville."
Kenrya Rankin  Mar 5, 2018 2:43PM EST

LISTEN: Why Does the Media Have So Much Trouble Covering Racists?

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on “Face the Racist Nation”: “When you make it about ignorance, you’re also making it about individual people and you’re not making it about power and policy and structures and systems.”
A collage of news clippings symbolizes urban unrest in the late '60s
Rinku Sen  Feb 28, 2018 6:25PM EST

As the Kerner Report Turns 50, I Actually Have Some Good News About the Media [OPINION]

Rinku Sen: “I’ve read thousands of justifiable words about how little has changed and has even gotten worse for people of color in the media. But there’s no question that the last 50 years would have been immeasurably worse without the actions of reporters and news consumers of color.”
Image says "Wow."
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 14, 2018 3:30PM EST

Politico Article Suggests Readers Get Their 'Own Immigrant'

No, it was not satire.
Black-and-white photo of black man in fedora and overcoat and tie on white shirt in front of white stone building and grass
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2018 4:16PM EST

#TBT: How Harry McAlpin Broke the White House Press Corps Color Barrier

The White House Correspondents’ Association barred the Black journalist for decades.
Black and white text blocks on orange background
Sameer Rao  Jan 10, 2018 12:07PM EST

Cassius Tackles Toxic Masculinity in #MeToo Era With January Cover

Darnell L. Moore: “Because it’s time to reflect on the ways our collective love for ‘masculinity’ is like a tight ass grip choking brothers’ freedom, whether they have learned to breathe with hands around their necks or not.”
Black woman in red dress stands next to Black woman in black dress behind red podium in front of red and gold curtains and gold sign
Sameer Rao  Jan 4, 2018 12:06PM EST

Essence Acquisition Brings Magazine Back Under Black Ownership

The executive team, consisting entirely of Black women, will now co-own the company that’s behind the magazine and its annual music and arts festival.