Essence Festival beauty must-haves rooted in Black culture

New Orleans in late summer is not for the unprepared. The 2026 Essence Festival of Culture arrives in full force this July, and the city's humidity will challenge every product in your kit. Picking the right beauty bag is not a minor concern. It is the difference between a look that holds and one that…

ByGesi LloydMay 28, 20260Comments

Entertainment

Michelle Obama joins Essence Festival 2026 in New Orleans

The former First Lady will open the evening concert series on July 3 with a live conversation about style, identity, and her newest book at the Caesars Superdome. Michelle Obama is officially joining the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans, and the announcement changes the entire conversation around what this year's event…

ByGesi LloydMay 13, 20260Comments

Hair

The afro has a name. Vogue used a different one

A recent piece in Vogue about flattering haircuts for thicker hair types referred to Tracee Ellis Ross's afro as a cloud bob. The phrasing lasted long enough to ignite a response across social media that was pointed, historically grounded, and clearly not surprised. For many in the Black community, this was not a new kind…

ByDestiny PhilipsApril 16, 20260Comments

Culture

ESSENCE Fest 2026 Names 4 Powerful Cultural Curators

The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is returning to New Orleans this July with a renewed focus on storytelling, creativity and community. Organizers have announced a lineup of influential women who will help shape the festival’s programming, marking a continued evolution in how the event brings culture to life. Joining Chief Curator…

ByDorcas OnasaApril 16, 20260Comments

Culture

How Easter is celebrated the African diaspora

Easter arrives each spring draped in pastel colors, chocolate eggs and the familiar image of a cartoon bunny. That version of the holiday is real, but it is far from complete. Across the African diaspora, Easter is observed through a set of traditions that run deeper than the mainstream version, shaped by history, faith, migration…

ByGesi LloydApril 3, 20260Comments

Celebs

Chilli clears her name as more Black celebrities embrace MAGA

After rumors tied Chilli to Trump donations and a controversial repost, her swift denial is a reminder of why public figures especially Black ones can no longer afford silence. It started with a repost and a donation trail and within hours, TLC star Rozonda Chilli Thomas found herself at the center of a firestorm. Rumors…

ByDorcas OnasaMarch 29, 20260Comments

Entertainment

From HBCUs to Yale 5 Black joy wins this week

The news cycle can be relentless. Between rising costs, geopolitical tensions and the daily grind of navigating an uncertain world, it can feel like good news is in short supply. But Black joy, Black excellence and Black pride have never stopped showing up and this week delivered some of the most heartwarming proof of that.…

ByDorcas OnasaMarch 28, 20260Comments

Entertainment

Celebrating Black joy, five stories worth slowing down for

Not every week hands you a reason to stop scrolling and pay attention to something good. This one did. Across music, medicine, fitness, fatherhood, and dance, Black culture delivered moments that were generous and specific and worth sitting with longer than a caption allows. Jill Scott brings Black joy to the HBCU Aware Fest stage…

ByDestiny PhilipsMarch 28, 20260Comments

Entertainment

Bold moments that shaped LaTanya Richardson Jackson

On a bright afternoon in Los Angeles , LaTanya Richardson Jackson appears on screen with the ease of someone fully comfortable in her own story. The seasoned actress, known for her commanding presence on stage and screen, brings warmth, candor and reflection to a conversation that spans decades of personal and professional…

ByDorcas OnasaMarch 27, 20260Comments

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Essence Festival beauty must-haves rooted in Black culture

Michelle Obama joins Essence Festival 2026 in New Orleans

The afro has a name. Vogue used a different one

ESSENCE Fest 2026 Names 4 Powerful Cultural Curators

How Easter is celebrated the African diaspora

Chilli clears her name as more Black celebrities embrace MAGA

From HBCUs to Yale 5 Black joy wins this week

Celebrating Black joy, five stories worth slowing down for

Bold moments that shaped LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Zendaya went archival for her boldest look of the tour

Avoid these 6 Saturn retrograde mindset mistakes

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