Essence
9 Moments We Loved From D’Angelo & Friends On Verzuz
Last night, D’Angelo brought the vibes to the Apollo theater for the first solo edition of Verzuz. The legendary soul singer presented a virtual concert called “D’Angelo & Friends” that […] The post ...
Celebrate Black History Every Day Of The Year With Mayor Aja Brown’s Revolutionary Playlist
Aja Brown is the youngest mayor to lead the city of Compton, California. And after more than seven years of service, she announced last month that she will not run […] The post Celebrate Black History ...
14 Films To Watch Before Reggae Month Is Over
Despite Reggae Month 2021 being kept on servers and streaming sites due to the global pandemic, Jamaica’s long and storied history continues on in film unabashedly. The country’s theme of […] The post ...
Everything You Need to Know About The 2021 Golden Globes
Kicking off the 2021 award season, the 78th Annual Golden Globes will air this Sunday, February 28th, at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. The ceremony will be hosted by the […] The post Everything You Need to Know ...
‘Rejection Gave Me A Compass For My Current Career’
The career I have was birthed out of rejection. Rejection—and all its pain—has served as a compass to my current career path. A career where I am now making offers, paying invoices, […] The post ‘Rejection ...
Clifton Powell Says He’s Repeatedly Been Told He’s ‘Too Black’ For Roles
Clifton Powell’s remarkable acting career spans over 30 years with renowned roles in Ray, Eve’s Bayou and Woman Thou Art Loosed. Now, the actor is candidly speaking out on how […] The post Clifton Powell ...
Niecy Nash and Wife Jessica Betts Are In Full Baecation Mode
If you’ve been longing to take an epic and relaxing baecation these days, get ready to feel some major FOMO over actress Niecy Nash and wife Jessica Betts recent escapades. […] The post Niecy Nash and ...
Proposed Alabama Bill Could Mean Harsher Penalties for BLM Protesters
A lawmaker in Alabama proposed legislation that would impose harsher penalties for anyone who participates in a riot, or protests that turn violent or destructive.. On Wednesday, Republican Representative ...
11 Black Celebs You’d Be Shocked To Learn Don’t Have Stars On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Monumental costume designer Ruth E. Carter was cemented into history yesterday –quite literally– by earning her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her impressive list of credits includes […] The post ...
A Look Back At 5 Erykah Badu Essence Covers On Her 50th Birthday
Since her debut album, Baduism, in 1997, Erykah Badu has shown us a new way of being. She taught us you don’t have to conform to industry standards of beauty; […] The post A Look Back At 5 Erykah Badu ...
New Orleans Completes First Phase Of Process To Rename 37 City Landmarks Named After Confederate Leaders
The city of New Orleans is moving forward with plans to rename over three dozen city landmarks that were originally named after Confederate leaders and “supporters of segregation,” according to […] The ...
JOANN Launches A Capsule Collection For Black History Month
Ending Black History Month with a continuous collection beyond February is JOANN. The lifestyle, fabric, and craft storefront released its Cultural Pride fabrics collection at the beginning of Black History ...
CFDA President CaSandra Diggs Details New Initiative
Today, the latest effort from The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to encourage sustainable change across the fashion industry has officially launched. Earlier this week, the CFDA announced ...
A Historic Meeting: Vice President Kamala Harris Welcomes Congressional Black Caucus to the White House
Vice President Kamala Harris held a historic meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) at the White House, discussing issues of importance to Black communities and all Americans ...
Meet 10 More Black Women Entrepreneurs Preparing To Win Big For Their Businesses
Black women business owners are continuing to remain at the forefront of innovation as entrepreneurs and the New Voices team is joining forces with the Target Accelerators team yet again […] The post Meet ...
We Lost Who Billie Holiday Might Have Been If She Wasn’t Busy Fighting Racism
The United States Vs. Billie Holiday follows the jazz icon’s persecution by the U.S. government for speaking out against lynchings. The force behind civil rights’ anthem “Strange Fruit,” Holiday chose ...
Four Black Artists Nominated By The Academy Of Country Music This Year
The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) is returning this spring for another night of honoring the soaring talent in the country music industry. Historically shattering ACM nomination records ...
Thasunda Brown Duckett Becomes Second Black Woman To Lead Fortune 500 Company As New CEO of TIAA
#BlackGirlMagic is taking over the C-suite. TIAA just named JPMorgan Chase’s Thasunda Brown Duckett as its new CEO — the second Black woman tapped this year to lead a Fortune […] The post Thasunda Brown ...
Black Creatives Share How They Found Success By Tapping Into Their Imaginations
A version of this article originally appeared in the March/April issue of ESSENCE magazine, available on newsstands now. There’s something special about Black creatives, and American culture owes so much ...
Rep. Karen Bass Reintroduces George Floyd Policing Bill in Congress
When George Floyd gasped his final breath last May after a Minneapolis police officer was captured on viral video kneeling on his neck, Black Lives Matter protests swept the nation […] The post Rep. Karen ...
The New Voices + Target Accelerators Pitch Competition Is Back TODAY At 3PM EST!
It’s that time again and another group of talented business owners will get the chance to win big for their businesses. Tune in TODAY, Feb 26th at 3:00 pm EST […] The post The New Voices + Target Accelerators ...
How Demetria L. Lucas Went From Columnist To Screenwriter And Never Once Wasted Her Pretty
Demetria L. Lucas is an award-winning author, journalist, media personality, podcast host, and former Relationships Editor of this very publication. While at ESSENCE, Lucas published her first book, “A ...
Cherie Jones Explores Race, Class, And Domestic Violence In The Caribbean In Her Debut Novel
Whether it’s the pink shoreline of Crane Beach, the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean sea, or the superstar Rihanna, the island of Barbados is almost always associated with beauty. But in her […] The ...
How Demetria Lucas Went From Columnist To Screenwriter And Never Once Wasted Her Pretty
Demetria Lucas is an award-winning author, journalist, media personality, podcast host, and former Relationships Editor of this very publication. While at ESSENCE, Lucas published her first book, “A Belle ...
Naturi Naughton Tapped To Star in ABC’s ‘Queens’
Coming off the series finale of Power, Naturi Naughton is set to star in the hour-long pilot of ABC’s Queens. Written by Zahir McGhee, Queens chronicles the reunion of four […] The post Naturi Naughton ...