Our Perspective Counts
Dorothy Dandridge did not lack talent, beauty, or ambition. From her earliest days growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Dorothy was immersed in performance. Born on November 9, 1922, she performed…
Zinger Sole has recently released a new single titled "Rather Be Me," which has quickly captured the hearts of listeners around the world. The song is a soulful, inspiring anthem…
Early Life and Birthplace Mary J. Blige was born Mary Jane Blige on January 11, 1971, in The Bronx, New York. Raised between the Bronx and Yonkers, her early life…
Gladys Knight was born Gladys Maria Knight on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in a musical household and rooted in the Black church, Knight was singing publicly by…
Wesley Snipes was born Wesley Trent Snipes on July 31, 1962, in Orlando, Florida, and raised in the Bronx, New York. Growing up in a working-class environment, Snipes was exposed…
Lionel Richie was born Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. on June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama, a city deeply rooted in Black history, education, and resilience. Raised on the campus of…
James Baldwin spoke calmly about things America didn’t want to admit. He was born in Harlem in 1924, raised in poverty, surrounded by religion, rage, and expectation. From an early…
Marvin Gaye didn’t wake up trying to make a political statement. He was trying to understand the world he lived in — and his place in it. By the late…
Alex Haley wasn’t in a rush. Long before his name became tied to one of the most important books in American history, he was a young Black man listening closely…
A Press Built Out of Necessity Before social media, before 24-hour news cycles, and before mainstream outlets showed any consistent interest in Black life, Black communities built their own press.…