Essence Magazine:
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
Black members of the press have educated the public about the injustices and oppression in America since the establishment of the first Black newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, in 1827. Now, two-centuries later, independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort face federal charges after their coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest, adding to the
Essence Magazine:
By William Thompson ·
The post How Ellaé Lisqué Founder Maxie J. Rebuilt Her Fashion Brand With Women At The Center appeared first on Essence.
Essence Magazine:
By Shelby Stewart ·
The post The ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Is Returning With Two New Housewives appeared first on Essence.
Essence Magazine:
Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
By the 2010s, Sterling Lewis was shaping Houston nightlife.
The early aughts of Houston nightlife could be described as mythical, because quite frankly, you just had to be there. Lewis, in large part, played a role in that. He’s responsible for popular parties such as Belvedere Sundays and the That’s My Jam R&B series, which brought to Houston major A-list stars, including the likes
Essence Magazine:
(Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 20, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
From Washington to the Midwest and down to the Georgia coast, the country confronted a series of flashpoints that underscore how policy, politics and public safety continue to collide in real time. In the nation’s capital, House Republicans advanced a Trump-backed voter ID bill that could reshape election access nationwide. In Illinois,
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(Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images) By Shelby Stewart ·Updated February 18, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
Clifton Powell is 69 years old and just now learning how to love.
That confession hit hard during the “Black Men Trust Black Women Roundtable,” convened by SisterSong Executive Director Monica Simpson to bring Black men into deeper accountability within the Reproductive Justice movement.
But honesty is not the same thing as
Essence Magazine:
By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 18, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
Six decades after the Civil Rights Movement, Rutha Mae Harris, the last surviving member of the Freedom Singers, is continuing to shape how the next generation of leaders in Albany, Georgia are incorporating music and vocal performance in their advocacy efforts.
“Today, I am still singing those songs because freedom is a constant struggle,” said Harris. “It seems like
Essence Magazine:
By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 16, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
While Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) remain systematically underfunded from decades of discriminatory practices in state and federal budgets, the Reinvestment Fund is working to strengthen the financial health of these institutions through its HBCU Brilliance Initiative.
Through its new HBCU Brilliance Initiative, 11 institutions will receive grants and financing aimed at strengthening long-term financial stability.
Last
Essence Magazine:
By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 12, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
From landmark civil rights battles to classroom reforms, heartbreaking tragedies, and the loss of beloved community leaders, this week’s news captures the victories, setbacks, and human stories shaping America today. From the Pride flag’s removal at New York’s Stonewall National Monument to Colorado’s new Black history curriculum, Florida’s DEI controversies, a justice milestone in Illinois, and the passing