James Baldwin and the Cost of Telling the Truth
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 and the Courage to Ask Hard Questions
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 Took His Time — and Changed How Black History Is Told
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…
Gordon Parks: The Man Who Turned A Camera Into A Weapon
Gordon Parks didn’t just document Black life — he redefined how America saw it. Born in 1912 and raised in poverty, Parks taught himself photography and went on to become…
They Don’t Teach The Claudette Colvin Story
Her name was Claudette Colvin, and history did not protect her. On March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus. She was…
Phillis Wheatley Changed American Literature Forever
Phillis Wheatley became the first Black woman poet to be published in American history. Born in West Africa and enslaved as a child. Wheatley taught herself to read and write…
Haiti Punished for Winning Independence
When Haiti became the world's first Black republic in 1804, it should have been a moment of global celebration. Instead, it became a warning. Haiti was born after formerly enslaved…
January 6, 1993: Jazz Icon Dizzy Gillespie Dies at 75
RIP Dizzy Gillespie On January 6, 1993, Dizzy Gillespie, one of the architects of modern jazz, passed away at the age of 75. Gillespie was a founding father of bebop.…
Medgar Evers: A Life Taken for Demanding Justice
On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. He was 37 years old. Evers’ murder was not random. It was a targeted act meant…
Sidney Poitier Remembered: A Giant of Film and Dignity
Sidney Poitier Remembered: A Legacy That Redefined Hollywood On January 6, 2022, Sidney Poitier, one of the most influential figures in American film history, passed away at the age of…