A Picturesque Exaltation
Climbing what used to be the confederate monument at the entrance of City Park in New Orleans, LA was more than just for a photo opportunity. It was a silent monologue that portrayed a snippet of the black woman’s struggle, the adversity we often face, and then….the exaltation we most definitely deserve. This picture goes beyond a black girl wearing all white while perched on a monument in the middle of a… Read More
Do White Folks Hate Black Folks’ Hair?
Feelings, crown, soul, and pride are all words synonymous with hair for black Folks. Many of Our emotions, experiences, and expressions are intertwined within the embodiment of our hair. This sentiment was eloquently sang by Solange in the song “Don’t Touch My Hair.” India Arie boldly details in the song “I Am Not My Hair” that her hair is not totally indicative of who she is even though her hair is an… Read More
Alumni Matter
“We just don’t want to be shut out…” For a second time, I’ve had an opportunity to see a New Orleans school established post-Katrina initiate steps to establish a relationship with the alumni community of the school that previously held the space it now occupies. But this time was different. Perhaps this was because John McDonogh Sr. High School hasn’t necessarily received the best local/national media attention nor adequate resources from the… Read More
Chef Stew Helps Youth Transition to the Next Level
Baltimore, Maryland native Robert Stewart, known as Chef Stew, wants to empower youth through the culinary arts. He remembers the struggles he faced on the path to becoming a celebrity chef and he wants to use his talent to show young people that cooking can help them transition into a sustainable career. How did culinary arts become your career? To be completely honest, I was kind of forced into the culinary… Read More
Five Reasons why HBCUs are Life
By Samjah Saulsberry As a kid, The Cosby Show used to be my addiction. Each week, I anticipated seeing that family on TV who resembled my family and other families I knew. I was in awe of the storylines, Denise Huxtable’s fashion choices, and the positive perception the show exuded. I remember my mother scolding me about something, and I bravely stood up and said to her, “Clair Huxtable wouldn’t talk to her children… Read More
Where to draw the line for our children
The first time I visited Mexico, I crossed the border from El Paso. As I walked through El Paso, the city felt like many U.S. cities, with a number of concrete high-rise buildings and small green trees lining the sidewalks. A few of the buildings were prominently labeled with the names of popular banks and investment companies. As I walked closer to the border, the tenor of the street began to change…. Read More
The Presidential Bully, but who cares?
As I sit here looking out of the window of my 6th floor hotel room, I am constantly reminded that God has to have the biggest sense of humor. Why? …Because he allowed Donald J. Trump to take the office of the Presidency. My reminder comes in the form of a 64 story golden glass tower called the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. Now before I decided to write about the 45… Read More
Five Reasons Why Youth Activism is Essential
By Samjah Saulsberry Who Runs The World? So we all know what Beyoncé’s response would be – and her famed, effeminate anthem definitely has validity to it. Women do play a vital role when it comes to the keeping this world intact; however, it’s actually the youth who not only hold the universe’s future but shape it as well. Before there was Rosa Parks, there was 15-year-old Claudette Colvin who was… Read More
Gun Control
By Travis Jackson America has had problems for several years over drastically increasing gun violence. There has been little help from the government to lessen the accessibility of certain rifles and firearms. Many people have wondered when the government will focus more on the safety of its citizens and future generations and less on how much money the National Rifle Association (NRA) will give them to allow these dangerous weapons to be so… Read More