by Kinsey Clarke


My mother was born in 1951. She was sixteen-years-old when the Detroit Riots of 1967 occurred. She recalls how the military tanks rolled down our street, the fear that hung in the air, but remedies it with the notion that black people back then knew that progress could only be made with respectability and by following the cookie-cutter, whitewashed image of Martin Luther King Jr. and that those who rioted were outliers of the movement. After the Civil Right Era, in which we were “given” our rights, many from that time believed the playing field to be even, and that black people in this country no longer lived a second-class citizenship.

This year Quvenzhane Wallis played "Annie" and it was a momentous casting. The young Wallis is pretty, witty, talented, and black. Quvenzhane is representation young black girls and people of color in general could look forward to Christmas Day.

by Tracey Michae’l


Truth be told, I think that every Black woman on Earth owned 2014. From the mom working double shifts to keep her kid in college to the West African entrepreneur providing services to her community to the yet-to-be-discovered artist rocking their gift in some unknown studio in Brooklyn (or Atlanta or Houston or Chicago or…), each of us gave it our all this year in spite of feeling the weight of injustice that threatened our families. We commanded our physical, mental and spiritual spaces no matter what personal or professional hardships and triumphs we walked through.

Shaneka Thompson is out of the hospital, and this is good news!

2014 has been marked by massive protests decrying the failure of the justice system to charge officers for killing unarmed black men. And there have been urgent calls for the recognition of black humanity as well as an outpouring of profound sympathy for the mothers and families of those slain men. One wonders whether this amounts to an added layer of trauma for the mothers of murdered black daughters whose deaths don't rate high enough for the nation's outrage or the black community's collective mourning.

by Valerie Jean-Charles


This year has been a great year for feminism. Whether it be the social justice movements led by Black women to protect and uplift Black lives in the midst of oppression, or simply Beyoncé standing righteously in front of the word “feminist” in bright, bold letters. Women—Black women—have been winning. Yet, we have also taken some major hits: Internet trolls, white feminists stealing and undermining our work, and controversies. Looking back two of the most major stories of the year in our community have twisted my insides with disgust, and have also led me to ponder the issues we face in our own community in moving the feminist/womanist movement forward.

by Shonette Reed


It seems that this year—more than recent years—America’s Black celebrities have worked hard to use their influence and fame to shed light on one of our country’s oldest and most insidious issues: race. 2014 has been marred by the numerous cases of police brutality and state-sanctioned violence against Black people—the most prominent being the police-caused deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and now Tamir Rice. Due to this, many celebrities and influential figures from the entertainment industry—including actors, musicians, and athletes—have realized the importance of speaking up.

by Randie Henderson


As 2014 comes to a close, it is now the time for reflection. As January approaches, many of us are also making goals and plans for the new year ahead. For myself, this means wedding planning for my fiancé and I is officially about to commence. I have found that these days, I am nostalgic, wanting to reminisce on our past together and the lessons we’ve learned over the last year. Specifically, just 8 months ago, we were in a long distance relationship. Here are the things I learned from from being apart, but I feel these lessons will resonate with most relationships.

Last week, I read an opinion piece posted on For Harriet, critiquing Black women’s backlash to VH1’s new show, Sorority Sisters. I found the title, “So Now You're Mad?: A Response to ‘Sorority Sisters’ from a Sorority Sister” to be taunting, and I found the piece to be riddled with problematic generalizations.

There are just a few days left in 2014, so many of us have already turned our sights on the New Year. While many people criticize New Year’s Resolutions, it is natural to reflect upon the previous year and to have general hopes or goals for the year ahead. And so often, Black women are discouraged from focusing on their own dreams and wellbeing. Thus, we’ve created a list of “resolutions” that every Black woman should think about adopting this year, as a way of affirming our self-worth.

by Leah C.K. Lewis


It seems every skeleton in the closets of notable African American men is coming out. Historically, there have been claims of domestic violence against men like Miles Davis, James Brown, Ike Turner, and Bill Withers (who will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015).

by Felice León

I am a Blacktina. Get it: Black [La]tina?

A friend gave me this nickname years ago, and it has stuck. My father is Afro-Cuban, and my mother Afro-American. I identify with both cultures and have tried to balance both, but I’ve found that I associate more so with my blackness, particularly while living in the United States.

18-year-old Sheneque Proctor died while in the custody of police.

Sheneque was arrested on Novemeber 1 for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. In an ideal world, bail would be paid and Sheneque would return home to her 5 month old son Zamaruien Blevins. However, sadly, Sheneque was found dead in her cell the next morning. Tracy Rodda, Sheneque’s aunt, says that the young Ms. Proctor had asthma, and complained of harsh treatment from the police.

by Candace Simpson



Myriad thoughtful articles have been published about the invisibility of black women and girls in the context of police brutality. We now have sufficient resources to correct anyone who forgets black women are also killed by police. We’ve also learned that black women have led and organized solidarity actions across the country. Yet, if you read most signs at any protest or scroll through most Facebook timelines, you get the impression that black men are the only ones in the community who’ve been persecuted.

by Peter Drier for Talking Points Memo

In 1964, at the height of the civil rights movement, the organizer Ella Baker said: "Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother's sons, we who believe in freedom cannot rest." Bernice Johnson Reagon later wrote “Ella's Song" based on those words, made famous by the a cappella groupSweet Honey in the Rock.

When I got my first menstrual period one month after my 10th birthday, I knew I did not want children. At that age it was a matter of not being able to imagine going through the physical process of carrying and giving birth to a child. Almost 15 years later and I still feel the same way, except my reasons have changed. I still cringe at the idea of giving birth, but I am in no position to care for a child to ensure that he or she will live a well-balanced life. I do not want my child to wonder if there is going to be food on the dinner table or how much longer we have at that table until the landlord kicks us out.

by Bee Quammie

The last time I saw him was in the subway station.

Hearing the whoosh of the incoming train and the chime that signaled its opening doors, my casual strut turned to a full-out sprint as I hurried down the stairs and onto the platform. I prayed that I’d make it in time, but as the subway doors closed in my face those hopes were dashed.

Reporting by the Associated Press in Havana



A senior Cuban official has given the clearest sign yet that the island’s government has no intention of extraditing America’s most wanted woman, despite the warming of relations between the two countries.

by Samantha Marie Haynes

In an ironic twist, Sony must turn to a Black woman to save the day.

Cariol Horne is a sad but perfect example that not even the status of a police officer can protect a Black woman and a “good” cop.

by Stacey Patton


From looters to those disrupting traffic, from those dying-in at shopping malls to those wearing tee-shirts that say “I Can’t Breathe,” from those chanting “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” over Christmas carols to those venting and grieving on social media, the punditocracy has once again characterized protestors as a criminal element.

by Brittany Dawson


My first kiss: We stood in the back parking lot of the mall. Donned in an apron slathered with chunky patches of dried flour and salt, I reeked of butter, pretzel dough, and curiosity. Working at a pretzel kiosk reaped its reward; I saw my prize waiting in front of my car, wearing a timid smile, long-sleeve checkered flannel, and dark washed jeans from American Eagle.

by Inda Lauryn


If we were to believe anything we hear and see in the media, then we would believe that no one wants to be with black women, not even black men. If we were to believe another myth the media perpetuates, then we would believe that single black women are a pretty desperate lot. Understandably, black women (single or not) are more than tired and frustrated with being given the short end of the stick when it comes to our perceived desirability and this unnecessary dissection of our relationships.

by Hilary Christian


The holidays can be a time of joy and love, as many celebrate with friends and family, making preparations, and getting in on all the holiday cheer. But for others, this time of year can be extremely stressful. Some may struggle with depression or financial woes, while others may be away from loved ones and find themselves alone with no plans. And then there are those who aren’t necessarily religious, so they miss out on the “holiness” of the season. No matter what category you fall into, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed. Here are nine ways to cope during what can be a difficult holiday season.

A Maryland woman who was shot Saturday morning by the man who shot and killed two New York Police Department Officers Saturday afternoon has been identified, officials said.

by Kareema El-Amin


I am a single, saved, 40-something woman who is waiting until marriage to have sex. And yes, I think about having sex at least a hundred times throughout the day.

by Saaraa Bailey


Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape culture, misogyny

Last month’s Rolling Stone story, “A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA,” centered around a wide-eyed and ambitious college freshman named Jackie. Enjoying her blossoming collegiate career, Jackie was excited to embark on her first campus party, attending as the date of a member of the hosting Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. This night would end in tragedy, with Jackie being raped by multiple men. The once wide-eyed freshman would feel the gradual dimming of the light in her eyes—her innocence and infatuation a thing of the past due to the violence she suffered that night.

by Tamar Levin

The president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Shirley Ann Jackson, was the nation’s highest-paid president of a private college in 2012, with total compensation of $7,143,312 — almost twice as much as the next most highly compensated president — according to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual pay survey.

by Diana Veiga


In 2013, I won the Go On Girl! Book Club’s (the largest book club for Black women) Unpublished Writer’s Award for my submitted story, “Neighborhood Watch.” I was invited to attend their annual convention in Atlantic City to receive my award and say a few words. While at the podium I looked out into the crowd of Black women from all over the country of varying shades, ages, and backgrounds. Among all these differences, one thing was clear: they were all beaming back at me with pride.

by Candace Simpson

by Neisha Washington


In light of the recent passing of Titi Branch, entrepreneur and founder of Miss Jessie’s, due to a reported suicide, many have called for elevating the discussion of black women’s mental health into the wider consciousness. The story of black women and mental health is a difficult one to tell. It is not pretty. It is not poetic. It is something that requires stripping down to the bare bones of intersectionality and oppression. It is a story often told by examining the reasons for the silence in our communities, schools, and homes. It will take a toll on the myths of strength that black women have told ourselves to survive.

Courtesy of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, every Wednesday is considered Hip Hop Wednesday at the University of South Carolina. A pleasing mixture of current radio hits to 90s throwback jams blare across Greene Street, a popular hub for Carolina students to unwind before and after class. Athletes, members of Black Greek Letter Organizations, and other Carolina students dance, catch up with friends, and chatter during this time. What makes Hip Hop Wednesday so empowering and unique to the university is its ability to encourage mingling of students of diverse ethnicities, genders, and religions: we all gather and enjoy the music together. Hip Hop Wednesday is a staple of the Carolina community.

by Raisa Habersham


Chris Rock has been on the press junket circuit in support of his upcoming movie “Top Five,” a story about a comedian’s rise to stardom while dealing with the pressures of fame. In addition to promoting his film, the comedian has spoken on several topics from Ferguson to Bill Cosby. And now, the state of Black Hollywood can be added to that list.

by Ariel C. Williams


Two weeks ago, Sasha and Malia Obama were criticized like every black girl has been and will be, when a GOP communications director Elizabeth Lauten attempted to publicly shame the First Daughters in a post on her personal Facebook page.

By Theresa Seiger for AL.com

Hiawayi (pronounced like the state, Hawaii) Robinson, the 8-year-old girl found dead behind an abandoned building in September, died of "homicidal violence" at the hands of her father, Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said at a news conference on Tuesday.

by Stacey Patton for Dame Magazine 

Since the spate of murders by police of unarmed Black men, we are finally engaging in one of the most emotionally charged dialogues in this country, one we’ve long dreaded and therefore shirked: Americans are talking about race, and doing so as honestly as we can. But we can no longer avoid it after witnessing over and over the blatant inequality of policing and the failure to prosecute the officers who murdered Mike Brown and Eric Garner, which has made it painfully obvious that our nation has deliberately failed to uphold its laws to protect all citizens equally.

by Tierra C. 

As a black woman, who also happens to be member of a historically black sorority, I’m confused about and in awe of the elitism of my peers. After years and years of Love & Hip Hop, Basketball Wives, and other Monday night foolery on VH1, now you all want to be upset at VH1’s portrayal of black women because it finally hits home? Really? Wake up.

by Dalila Thomas


When is the last time you heard someone say, “I’m trying to spend my money?” Exactly.

by Bee Quammie


“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” —Zora Neale Hurston

Ever since I read that particular Zora Neale Hurston quote, I’ve used it on my birthday and at the close of each year to reflect and measure how far I’ve come. Here we are at the end of another year. While thoughts will soon shift to 2015 goals, resolutions, and vision boards, it’s imperative that we each take time for reflection.

by Danielle Stevens

Dear Black Women, Femmes, and Girls,

Who are neglected and ignored within public discourses around police violence and brutality;

Who are told our stories do not fit into mainstream narratives of state-sanctioned anti black violence because it is ‘derailing';

by Hannah Giorgis for The Guardian

Erica Garner – the brave daughter of Eric Garner, who died this July when police officer Daniel Pantaleo restrained him in an illegal chokehold –staged a “die-in” last week outside the storefront where her father said his last words: “I can’t breathe.” The phrase, which Eric Garner repeated 11 times as Pantaleo refused to release his grip, has become an international rallying cry for protesters, celebrities and students alike.

by Malaika Jabali


The number of black men and women who have been victimized by the hands of injustice has grown uncomfortably long in the past two years. While we have yet to see the consistent mass movement of previous generations, many of our people have been reawakened. Black celebrities have been among those joining the fight for racial justice and human rights. It’s easy to focus on those celebrities who have disappointed us with their silence, but many actors, musicians, and athletes have used their platform to raise awareness and they deserve recognition. In no particular order, this list acknowledges some of those celebrities who have been most engaged and vocal when it comes to raising consciousness—whether through social media, direct community action, or discussing these issues on mainstream broadcast media.

by Kinsey Clarke


The past few months have been especially hard with the murders of Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, and Eric Garner, and the non-indictment of their murderers. As people around the nation and the world protest, our movement in knowing that #BlackLivesMatter and protesting police brutality grows stronger and more resolute every day. Often our conversations with others in person or on social media lead to heated debates about what should or should not be done in the wake of these events. However, here are a few of the things that should never be said in these interactions. Ever.

by Inda Lauryn


The recent news that neither Darren Wilson nor Daniel Pantaleo would be indicted for their killings Michael Brown and Eric Garner respectively, is heartbreaking. The weeks following the grand jury decisions have been marked with action: more protests, civil unrest, and conversations in an attempt to explain how this happened in our “post-racial” times.

by Morgan Parker

Titi Branch (left) and Miko Branch (right).

Although it has not been confirmed by Branch's family or representatives, it was announced over the weekend that Titi Branch, co-founder of the natural haircare line Miss Jessie's, died on Dec. 4th from an apparent suicide.

by Ariel C. Williams


In this gut-wrenching video, a tear drenched Lesley McSpadden, mother of slain Michael Brown, reminded African Americans of a truth we’ve grown to know: “They ain’t never gonna care.”

After hearing a grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, McSpadden went to an equally confused and distraught crowd to voice her frustrations. “They want him back in Ferguson. I can’t get nobody back.”