Category: African-American

Essence Magazine:

The last few days have been a flurry of emotions as the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery became the tip of the iceberg of what was already a dreadfully long list of names of the black lives lost to police brutality and white supremacy.

For the Black community, the fight against systemic racism is a year round fight– year after year. But following recent events, the Black Lives Matter movement is now on the radar of fashion brands as many look to them to use the platform they’ve been given to speak out against injustices and influence change. As brands react, or don’t react, consumers are  reassessing the brands they support moving forward. Some have gone beyond verbal acknowledgement, offering monetary support to various foundations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Fashion Nova has pledged $1 million for “community resources and activism, awareness campaigns and other initiatives to help in the fight for racial equality and opportunity,” while Pretty Little Thing will donate 100% of proceeds from their recent collection launch with musician, Saweetie, to black Lives Matter.

As many look to smaller, black-owned clothing brands to shop, these brands are too pledging to donate to move the needle forward. Jerry Lorenzo, designer of Fear of God, an independently black-owned streetwear brand, shared his encounter with the news of George Floyd’s death on Instagram: “Being a father, my first thought was ‘I pray this man doesn’t have any kids,’” he said.

On Thursday, Fear of God announced the launch of their ‘GF’ T-shirt in support of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, garnering support for the project from other minority-owned brands including Union Los Angeles, Noah NYC, Off-White, Awake, Just Don, Denim Tears, Pyer Moss and Melody Ehsani.

A  limited run of Fear of God’s ‘GF’ tee will release on the brand’s Instagram page Friday, June 5 at 12 PM ET for pre-order. 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Giana Floyd Fund. 

The post Fear of God Launches the ‘GF’ Tee In Support Of George Floyd’ appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

These past few weeks have been a lot for us and a reminder that the fight doesn’t stop because others just started to notice. Protests worldwide broke out in the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Nina Pop and too many others. Artists and musicians are humans beings, offering reflection and support for the Black Lives Matter movement in gesture and in song.

Many people took part in Blackout Tuesday this week, but my Blackness doesn’t get any days off. What sense does it make to be silent in solidarity? How does anything change that way? Like I said, these past few weeks have been a lot for us all—in very upsetting and maddening ways. I continue to pray everyone continues to stay safe and healthy out in these still-COVID-19-laced streets.

While streaming services like Spotify create voiceless tributes in memory of George Floyd, I wanted this edition of ESSENCE’s The Playlist to celebrate the lives of the fallen with some heartfelt jazz. Listen below as Nubya Garcia, Terrace Martin, Braxton Cook—and the late greats Hugh Masekela and Tony Allen—plus more share music to aid us in this time of chaos.

1. Jyoti (Georgia Anne Muldrow) — “This Walk”

Georgia Anne Muldrow is mesmerizing in so many different ways. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter has announced her new LP as Jyoti, her third solo jazz project under a name given to her by Alice Coltrane. “This Walk,” the lead single from Mama, You Can Bet!, is described by the multi-instrumentalist and producer as how “violence can both ignite and snuff out a voice.” A timely song from a timeless artist, “This Walk” is a ballad that speaks to feelings of people across the country.

2. Salaam Remi & Terrace Martin — “ChickenNWaffles Baptist Chuuch”

These two super-producers are no strangers to the streets. Salaam Remi and Terrace Martin have crafted classics that empowered the youth (Nas’s “I Can”) and became a chant at Black Lives Matter protests. On “ChickenNWaffles Baptist Chuuch” from their 2019 effort, North Side of Linden, West Side of Slauson, the two capture the realness of their hometowns and deliver an uplifting number for any true-blue jazz lover.

3. Kamaal Williams — “Salaam”

Hearing a young virtuoso like Kamaal Williams will make anyone’s heart smile. As one half of the short-lived London-based jazz group Yussef Kamaal, Williams has continued to pierce the celestial plane with his genre-contorting abilities. “Salaam,” which jumpstarts Williams’ 2018 dynamic album, The Return, satisfies like an ice cold lemonade in the summertime. Listen to his newest cut, “One More Time,” if you’re listening out for a spiritual rebellion.

4. Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes — “Storm Before The Calm” (ft. Kaidi Akinnibi)

I didn’t place Yussef Dayes next to his former collaborator on purpose, but his purpose on What Kinda Music is cosmic in scope. “Storm Before The Calm,” which also features jazz talent Kaidi Akinnibi, is an expansive yet tightly coordinated number that brings out the best in Dayes and Tom Misch. There is a depth and darkness in Dayes’ rhythms that is offset by Misch’s pitch-perfect pop vocals. This song will have you stretching yourself to your outer limits and achieving peace.

5. Ghost-Note — “Looking at the World”

Ghost-Note is the side project of Robert “Sput” Searight and percussionist Nate Werth, best known as two members of the multiple Grammy-winning jazz collective Snarky Puppy. “Looking at the World” is one of my favorite cuts from 2018’s Swagism adventure. A social justice anthem with a hefty dose of conscious funk, this song is a great discovery for first-time listeners and jazz newcomers.

6. Nubya Garcia — “Pace”

It’s no secret that I love Nubya Garcia and her music. To hear her first release on Concord Jazz, Pace—jointly produced by her and Kwes (Solange, Bobby Womack)—is like experiencing the contrast and colors of living the fast life. According to Garcia, Pace is meant to inspire listeners to “think on what makes each of us joyful, what things we personally reach towards to feel ground.” I couldn’t have said it any better.

7. Nina Simone — “I Sing Just to Know That I’m Alive

Nina Simone’s newly reissued 1982 album Fodder On My Wings is considered an outlier in her catalog, but with what’s going on these days, it is more like Black classical music to my ears. “I Sing Just to Know That I’m Alive” hits a bit differently when you listen to it after hearing Simone’s frustrations molded into a jarring personal statement. If you need to drawing on extra motivation, this is one soul sound that needs to be played loud and proudly.

8. Hugh Masekela & Tony Allen — “Obama Shuffle Strut Blues”

Rest in Power to Hugh Masekela and Tony Allen.The two music legends exuded true creative and spiritual freedom during their time on this planet and Rejoice captures the blessings they were able to do together before being called home. “Obama Shuffle Strut Blues,” one of the last tunes they made is an exquisite example of their talents in full bloom. A percussive tour de force, “Obama Shuffle” was recorded mostly a decade ago in London at a time when 44 hadn’t been in office too long, but we could sure use him back at the White House ASAP.

9. Ben Williams — “March On”

Ben Williams is one of the most explosive voices in jazz. His politically charged and incisive album, I Am a Man, is emboldened by the emotional heft of the past. “March On,” which features D.C. actor/poet Wes Felton, paints a portrait of an artist and Black man in America in search of answers to help guide him through life. Rich in Black consciousness, this song is a window into what these protesters activated for: to end systemic racism and Black deaths by any means necessary.

10. Yussef Dayes & Alfa Mist — “Love Is the Message” (ft. Mansur Brown)

To give insight to just how superb Yussef Dayes and Kamaal Williams are as artists, I wanted to close this edition of The Playlist with a statement-making song called, “Love Is The Message,” which features pianist and composer Alfa Mist and guitarist Mansur Brown. The seven and a half minutes is worth the experience as this song is a shimmery and intricate work of art that is controlled display of exquisiteness that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The post Georgia Anne Muldrow, Nubya Garcia and Hugh Masekela Share Jazzy Melodies In a Time of Chaos appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

This week has been challenging, for multiple reasons.

On top of a deadly virus, the world was hit with back to back violent crimes that resulted in innocent black lives being lost. Breonna Taylor, Ahmed Aubrey, and George Floyd amongst others have been killed by the police or white supremacist all within the last few months. In result of these lives being lost, protest stuck out in all 50 states and across the world advocating for these individuals along with many other lives that have been lost at the result of racism without any consequences.

But enough is enough. People from all communities have come together to protest but particularlymillennials and Gen-Z have showed up with their first up and feelings written on a sign. These signs speak for itself and show the resilience of the next generation. We are good hands. Check out our favorite affirmations from protestors this week below.

The post The Best Protest Signs From Black Creatives This Week appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Black women have always been at the forefront of bold beauty trends. From micro-braids and asymmetrical cuts, to artistic eyeliner and ombre lips—we’ve done it all and we’ve made it look phenomenal.

But Black women have also been told that certain beauty trends weren’t for us, including red lips, blue eyeshadow, pink fingernails and more. There is no color, no trend, and no style that we can’t wear well. In fact, Black women have been exploring lip colors across the spectrum, reminding the world that our enviable lips make every hue look great.

Check out the gallery below of 20 beautiful Black women who’ll make you want to get creative with your lipstick shades, too.

The post 20 Beauties Who Prove That Black Women Make Any Lip Color Look Great appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Selma star David Oyelowo revealed that some of the Academy members refused to vote for the film because of the cast’s open support for the Black Lives Matter movement. During a session of Screen’s Screen Talks live Q&A series, Oyelowo said “Selma coincided with Eric Garner being murdered.” 

“That was the last time we were in a place of ‘I Can’t Breathe,’” he added referencing the recent killing of George Floyd, who uttered the same ill-fated words while pleading with police for his life. 

The actor said that some of the Academy members not only punished the film with their ballots, but they called the studio to criticize the cast fighting police brutality. 

“I remember at the premiere of Selma us wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-shirts in protest. Members of the Academy called in to the studio and our producers saying, ‘How dare they do that? Why are they stirring S-H-I-T?’ and ‘We are not going to vote for that film because we do not think it is their place to be doing that,” said Oyelowo. 

“It’s part of why that film didn’t get everything that people think it should’ve got and it birthed #OscarsSoWhite,” he continued. “They used their privilege to deny a film on the basis of what they valued in the world.”

True story. https://t.co/l7j8EUg3cC

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) June 5, 2020

Selma director Ava Duvernay backed up Oyelowo’s statements. She retweeted a link to the story with the words “true story,” attached.

In other Selma news, Paramount Studios is making the Oscar-nominated film available for free rental on digital platforms until June 30.

The post David Oyelowo Reveals Academy Punished ‘Selma’ Cast For Wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Shirts: Ava DuVernay Confirms appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Many of the year’s Pride Month festivities have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, beauty brands are celebrating the way they always have with the launch of new products and initiatives that support the LGBTQ+ community.

Proceeds from select eyeshadow palettes, makeup wipes, brushes and more, will help create safe and inclusive environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer youth and adults around the globe.

And in addition to becoming an ally, you can join the beauty brands in making an impact by shopping from the list of pride beauty buys we’ve rounded up in the gallery below.

The post 6 Beautiful Ways To Support The LGBTQ+ Community This Pride Month appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

LISTEN to Angela’s C. Styles’ special segment after Jermaine Dupri’s interview on ESSENCE Podcast Network’s UnBossed Podcast here:

Raising money as an entrepreneur isn’t as straightforward or glamorous as it often appears on social media. Serial entrepreneur and Emmy award-winning beauty industry vet

The post How Beauty Entrepreneur Angela C. Styles, Made A Way With No Blueprint appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others, many of us can say we are not ok right now. That is especially true for their loved ones.

In a timely and impactful episode of Red Table Talk, host Jada Pinkett Smith sat down with Lauren London to talk about how she’s been processing grief after losing her partner Nipsey Hussle to gun violence last year.

“For me, what’s really been important is connecting with God, and that’s been a struggle because something horrible happens in your eyes and you’re like, ‘How God?’,” the actress shared with Pinkett Smith. “It’s not easy. I don’t always wake up on the enlightened side of the bed, you know? And the days that I don’t, I let myself because I’m human. I’m gentle with myself. I find things that matter, and so I try to live with a purpose. When I’m having a bad day, I meditate. I go within.”

What does help London cope is the love she gets from the people who Nipsey touched. “He’s touching people still,” London said. “I find that when I run into people that tell me how he’s changed their lives, what they’re doing with their life right now, it fills me up. He would have loved to hear that.”

Later in the episode, Pinkett Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones and daughter Willow Smith sit down with Erica Ford, a gun activist London was introduced to at a Puma charity event. Ford explains the complexity of how gun violence affects women.

“First [there’s] the trauma of losing your soulmate, right? And then having to raise your children. I see women stop living,” Ford says. “I see them losing their lives from a broken heart. We teach them how to move past that pain. If you help the mother heal, you help save the family.”

See the episode in full below:

The post Lauren London Joins ‘Red Table Talk’ To Talk Nipsey Hussle’s Legacy And Gun Violence appeared first on Essence.