Amplifying Black Voices
For Filmmaker Makeba Ross, Her Hair Was Never "Just" Hair
By Theresa MassonyFor the first 11 years of her life, all Makeba Ross wanted was straight hair. "I just didn't really see [my hair type] on TV," she tells me in an interview for Elite Daily. "I always saw long hair. I always saw straight hair." It wasn't just the…
'Social Distance' Star Asante Blackk Wants You To Think Differently About BLM
By Sarah Halle CoreyNetflix's newly-launched anthology series Social Distance is striking a chord with audiences. The episodes follow various characters as they face the tumultuous first months of the coronavirus pandemic. Many critics and viewers at home aren't too…
Lizzo Made A Serious, Necessary Statement With Her BBMAs Dress & Nails
By Margaret BlatzThe 2020 Billboard Music Awards had music performance after music performance, tons of fan-voted awards, and out-of-this-world fashion. But perhaps the most poignant outfit at the BBMAs was Lizzo's "Vote" dress. While accepting the award for Top…
For Black People, Protesting Is Life & Death — Not A Costume
By Ciarra JonesHalloween costumes tend to reflect our cultural moment, and the summer before Halloween 2020 was defined by protest and unrest. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor ignited already simmering tensions concerning the…
More Than 50 Black-Owned Beauty Brands That Deserve Your Support Every Day Of The Year
By Theresa MassonyEvery minute of every day is prime time to support Black-owned beauty businesses and the creatives behind them who have worked tirelessly to perfect their craft. Even better, the beauty realm is chock-full of 'em, and so many of these products are…
Over 50 Black-Owned Fashion Brands That Should Be Staples In Your Wardrobe Year-Round
By Theresa MassonyDespite the sheer wealth of Black-owned fashion brands already out there, the fashion industry has a lengthy, exhausting history of exclusive, racist behavior toward the Black community. Even though the industry has taken steps toward diversity and…
Black Joy Is The Key To Change For These Young Revolutionaries
By Caroline ColvinAmong 2020's endless carousel of restlessness and trauma, racism and police brutality against Black people have once more sparked protests and outrage. But as the media circulate seemingly endless videos of killings and violence, images of…
No One Can Stop Talking About Regina King's Emmys Outfit
By Theresa MassonyAs she accepted the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Award for Lead Actress in a Limited Series/Movie for Watchmen, Regina King made an enormous statement in more ways than one. The one thing no one can stop talking about? King's Breonna Taylor shirt.…
Zendaya's Emmys Dress, Jewelry, & Shoes Are All Just *Chef's Kiss*
By Theresa MassonyDespite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the show must go on (sort of), and TV's biggest night, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, is here, starting off with one star in particular. Debuted pre-Emmys on Instagram, Zendaya's 2020 Emmys dress, jewelry,…
The Celebrity Lineup For Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Has Me On The FLOOR
By Theresa MassonyDo you ever just sit in awe of all the ways Rihanna continues to outdo herself in multiple industries? The correct answer is duh. Having already dominated the fashion industry with the introduction and continued success of both her Savage X Fenty…
Yes, Kamala Harris Loves Wearing Converse Sneakers As Much As You Do
By Margaret BlatzYour favorite shoes just made it on the campaign trail. That’s right, 2020 vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris loves Converse sneakers just as much as you do. She's rocked the iconic style throughout her campaign trail, and I’m so here for it.…
John Boyega Got Real About The Diversity Issues In Disney's 'Star Wars' Movies
By Dylan KickhamWhen the character of Finn was first introduced to the world in a 2014 trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he was a protagonist wrapped up in mysterious drama and intrigue. A stormtrooper setting off on his own was a whole new direction for…
OK, But HOW Cute Is This Detail On Keke Palmer's VMAs Dress?
By Theresa MassonyEven though she's literally hosting the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, Keke Palmer and her VMAs outfit did not have to go this hard!!! The look, though timelessly classic at first glance, is packed with small details that deserve every award tonight.…
15 Black-Owned Vintage Depop Shops For Endless Retro Inspo
By Margaret BlatzGiven the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, and everyone should still be complying with social distancing orders, you’re probably missing all your favorite places hard right about now. Sure, you can get take out from tour fave restaurants. But…
9 Black-Owned Etsy Haircare Shops To Peep Right Now For Natural, Handmade Products
By Margaret BlatzDespite the amount of people who care for natural hair, and despite the how the ritual of haircare is something everyone can relate to, a number of larger, wider-known haircare brands don't properly cater their products to natural hair texture.…
What Do Voting Rights & Reproductive Justice Have In Common? Everything
By Monica EdwardsMonica Edwards (she/her/hers) works as the federal policy manager at URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity. She is a proud Southerner and queer intersectional Black feminist.
My grandmother, Lizzie Mae Kelly, fought for her rights. In 1965,…
Here's Where You Can Snag Michelle Obama's "Vote" Necklace She Wore At The DNC
By Margaret BlatzOn Monday, Aug. 17, Michelle Obama delivered a powerful speech about the character required of presidents, empathy, and how crucial getting to the polls (or mailing in your vote) this October and November is to the future of the United States. The…
TikTok Is Jackie James' Stage & Everyone Is Watching
By Gabe BergadoBefore the idea of fame ever occurred to her, TikToker Jackie James knew she was an activist. This revelation happened around fifth grade, when she started to process what it meant to be a young Black woman and the daughter of an immigrant family.…
Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP" Music Video Outfits Deserve All The Awards
By Margaret BlatzCardi B and Megan Thee Stallion recently came out with the new must-listen-to song, "WAP." What’s even better than the song is the over-the-top, extravagant music video. If you haven’t heard “WAP” yet, be prepared to hear it at every party and club…
This Editor-In-Chief Created The Teen Magazine She Always Wanted To Read
By Lara WalshAs a teenager in 1998, Sesi Magazine's editor-in-chief Andréa Butler had what her mom called an "intense obsession" with magazines. But the experience was soured by the lack of diversity found in the pages of her favorite publications. At the time,…
