Black History RSS

  Beyonce is gearing up to perform at the Global Citizens Festival: Mandela 100 in South Africa, and she took time to pen a powerful open letter to the late Nelson Mandela on her website.  In the touching tribute entitled “Dear Madiba,” she recounts first meeting Mandela in 2004. “I first met you in 2004 […]

The post Beyonce pens powerful letter to “strategic warrior” Nelson Mandela ahead of Global Citizens Festival appeared first on theGrio.

  Michelle Obama is on a roll after the release of her best-selling book, Becoming, and folks who are lucky enough to catch her on her book tour are in for a major musical treat. Our Forever First Lady enlisted the help of The Roots drummer Questlove to curate a custom playlist that includes more than 300 of […]

The post Questlove curated a custom playlist for Michelle Obama’s book tour with over 300 songs appeared first on theGrio.

The highly-anticipated film, Green Book hits theaters today and shines a light on the legacy of Dr. Don Shirley. Mahershala Ali portrays the legendary musician in the flick that also stars Viggo Mortensen and we’re guessing both of their performances will garner major Oscar buzz. Mahershala Ali calls Viggo Mortensen a good partner, accepts apology […]

The post The legacy of Dr. Don Shirley comes to light in ‘Green Book’ appeared first on theGrio.

NEW YORK CITY — It’s a bright fall October day. A bike whisks by, leading a group of runners on a marathon course. Its rider is playing Chaka Khan’s “I Know You, I Live You,” the perfect soundtrack for a radiant afternoon in Tribeca. The unmistakable energy that fills the five boroughs every autumn can’t […]

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Twenty summers ago Taye Diggs arrived on the big screen, setting hearts aflutter and requiring nearly everyone, everywhere to locate a groove — and to get it back. But before that, Diggs, born in Newark, New Jersey, made his bones as Benjamin Coffin III in the original Broadway production of Rent, alongside Jesse L. Martin […]

Before the era of Southern rap dominance. Before Ludacris and T.I. and Lil Jon became household names. Before the Migos and Young Jeezy. Before Atlanta became the hub of hip-hop, there were the Source Awards. The second annual Source Awards took place on Aug. 3, 1995, and gave hip-hop one of its most iconic nights. […]

Netflix has announced plans to bring QUINCY to The Smithsonian. The streaming service has partnered with The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture for the inaugural Smithsonian African American Film Festival next month. Netflix is supporting this first-of-its-kind film festival, where cinema, history and culture come together to celebrate African American visual culture […]

The post Netflix will screen ‘QUINCY’ at Inaugural Smithsonian African American Film Festival appeared first on theGrio.

  Michelle Obama just announced plan to embark on a 10-city tour to promote her highly-anticipated memoir, Becoming. She will make stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Detroit, Denver, San Jose and Dallas and treat fans to intimate conversations about her life and her journey to becoming our nation’s first Black […]

The post WATCH: Michelle Obama announces 10-city book tour for ‘Becoming’ appeared first on theGrio.

Nothing prepares you for the moment the curtains are pulled back and you’re on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, now the National Civil Rights Museum. Nothing can prepare you for looking into the bathroom from where the shot was fired. Nothing prepares you for standing alone on the second floor of The Malcolm X […]

theGRIO REPORT - The murder of Emmett Till is just as relevant today as it was in 1955 when his death not only sparked an avalanche of public outrage and fear across the South...

The post How Mississippi and Emmett Till shaped the March on Washington appeared first on theGrio.

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has partnered with TCM to present a month-long programming initiative that’s sure to stir our souls. The Black Experience on Film will highlight portrayals of Black folks in film throughout history and present unique perspectives from incredible journalists. Hosted by 13 different members of AAFCA from print, online […]

The post AAFCA partners with TCM to present ‘The Black Experience on Film’ throughout September appeared first on theGrio.

The record is what the first heartbeat of a child sounds like. Nearly begging the listener to cry the moment Carlos Santana makes his presence known. His guitar is melting butter under the hot knife of lyrics best described as sacred. But it’s the choir, toward the end, that seals the deal: is … in […]

To stump Jamie Foxx? That takes a lot of work. But Mike Tyson pulled it off. The two celebrities have been connected for nearly 30 years, the boxer being a frequent and willing muse for Foxx. But recently they were discussing the actor’s long-anticipated, Martin Scorsese-directed biopic of the mercurial pugilist. During the conversation, Tyson, […]

The world is still reeling from the loss of Aretha Franklin and her family is reportedly keeping her fans in mind as they plan her funeral arrangements. According to reports, the family of the legendary singer is planning hold a public viewing at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. It is […]

The post REPORTS: Family of Aretha Franklin planning public viewing at Detroit museum appeared first on theGrio.

Aretha Franklin is one of the most iconic singers to ever live and the Queen of Soul delivered several memorable performances throughout her illustrious career. Throughout her nearly 60-year career, she has performed for Queen Elizabeth, prompted tears from Barack Obama, inspired countless artists and fans across the globe and delivered the undeniably impactful anthem […]

The post WATCH: 7 unforgettable performances from the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin appeared first on theGrio.

And now, it’s time to pay the Queen our utmost respect. After a largely private battle with pancreatic cancer, musical icon Aretha Louise Franklin has died at the age of 76. The woman who gave women a voice — the woman who is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with a litany of […]

This past weekend, I saw the sensational Spike Lee film BlacKkKlansman, a movie that tells the true story of African-American detective Ron Stallworth, who in 1979 infiltrated a local chapter of the Ku Klux Kan in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  As with Lee’s best films, this one explores the explosive, minefield laden issue of race, drawing […]

The post ‘BlacKkKlansman’ reveals dirty little secret about white women and hate groups appeared first on theGrio.

  Rihanna just made history as there first Black woman to grace the cover of British VOGUE’s coveted September issue. The singer/actress/ business mogul shared the good news on Instagram. “September issue of @britishvogue, styled by @edward_enninfuland shot by @nick_knight, on newsstands Friday August 3.  Wearing a @prada dress and gloves @savagexfenty lace body. Hair by […]

The post Rihanna makes history as first Black woman to cover British VOGUE’s September issue appeared first on theGrio.

An Alabama woman has made history as the first black female pilot in the state National Guard’s history.

The post Black female pilot makes history in Alabama National Guard appeared first on theGrio.

Here are five reasons to kick back in an RV and see some of the country's most beautiful landscapes for an adventure you won't soon forget.

The post Glamping 101: Having fun with friends and the fam road-tripping in an RV appeared first on theGrio.

Florida State University is joining the growing list of communities and institutions giving the boot to statues heralding people who contributed to slavery or the abuse of black people. An advisory panel of students, faculty and other interested parties voted that the statue of Francis Eppes VII is not the kind of monument they want […]

The post Florida State decides what to do with controversial slaveowner statue appeared first on theGrio.

There aren’t many moments that would provoke a veteran producer to want “to slap the s—” out of anyone. But — oversimplifying the art of music production in front of West Coast legend Warren G makes him think of certain moments of Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Story. An overreaction? Of course. But Long Beach, California’s, […]

June 29 marks the 30th anniversary of Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America. Murphy was the biggest movie star of the ‘80s and, as his idol Richard Pryor did in the 1970s, Murphy completely revolutionized comedy. His decade-long run was nothing short of preposterous: Not only was he a cast member of Saturday Night Live (1980-84), […]

The descendants are here. Here being Monticello, the Virginia plantation near Charlottesville that was owned by founding father Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. The people who have come on this early summer day are descended from the 607 people Jefferson enslaved in his lifetime. Shannon LaNier, 38, describes what he has […]

When I was growing up in Florida, in the country on a farm, I knew nothing about Juneteenth. But now over the last few years, this anniversary has become a touchstone for me. I have studied its history and it has become, for me, a day of celebration, but also a day of remembrance and […]

The post OP-ED: Priscilla Renea on why celebrating Juneteenth is more important than Fourth of July appeared first on theGrio.

Beginning Friday, June 22 through Sunday, June 24, William "Doc" Pickard has scheduled a weekend of “Thank You, Detroit” events for friends, co-workers and the city.

The post Legendary Detroit businessman plans big ‘Thank You’ for the Motor City appeared first on theGrio.

This Friday, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture will be unveiling "Watching Oprah," a year long exhibit.

The post 5 Reasons you have to run, not walk, to the new “Watching Oprah” Smithsonian exhibit appeared first on theGrio.

  She’s the original social influencer. Now Oprah Winfrey is officially going down in American history. The television icon is getting her own special exhibit at the famed National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which will let visitors see how her life and career influenced American culture for more 30 years. The exhibit, […]

The post Oprah Winfrey gets her own exhibit at the National Museum of African-American History appeared first on theGrio.

Patrick Riley has been a celebrated entertainment journalist for more than 25 years and his new book, That’s What Friends Are For: On The Women Who Inspired Me, highlights some of the women who helped shape his career. What made you want to write this tribute to women? From as early as when I was […]

The post EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Riley on his book ‘That’s What Friends Are For: On The Women Who Inspired Me’ appeared first on theGrio.

  Stacey Abrams made history on Tuesday when she won the Democratic primary race for Governor in Georgia, making her the nation’s first Black female nominee of a major party. If her winning streak continues, she will become the country’s first African-American woman to become governor. Abrams ran a grassroots campaign that spoke to the […]

The post Stacey Abrams makes history as first Black woman to win Ga. Democratic gubernatorial primary appeared first on theGrio.

The lynching memorial that opened last Thursday in Montgomery, Alabama is a sobering reminder of an ugly and barbaric time in American History that many would rather we forget. But with all the controversy following Kanye West’s TMZ meltdown where he declared to Harvey Levin and the viewing audience that “slavery was a choice,” people […]

The post #SayHerName: The lynching of Mary Turner appeared first on theGrio.

This is the second of two stories celebrating the 20-year anniversary of basketball cult classic He Got Game. The first covers the pair of Air Jordan 13s the film made famous. Directed by Spike Lee and starring Ray Allen and Denzel Washington, it hit theaters on May 1, 1998. “Once,” says Stephon Marbury, matter-of-factly. That’s […]