my time writing for EBONY
I covered arts and culture for the iconic publication, bringing stories ranging from Broadway to tennis to a national audience.
Order on the Court
Serena Williams is a queen of the tennis court who has won major tournaments many times over. But one moment in particular went down both in sport and in fashion history. It was 2002, at the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y. Over the course of two weeks as Williams served her way to the title, critics and fans alike incessantly discussed her hair, her muscles, her swing, her grunts and her clothes. (Read more here.)
Everybody Rejoice! The Wiz Returns
Ease on down, ease on down the road. Don’t you carry nothing that might be a load …The lyrics to this tune are synonymous with Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and Tin-Man skipping on a winding path to a mysterious realm. Not to be confused with the American film classic The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz is the mighty Black, soul-injected interpretation. (Read more here.)
History-making ‘Shuffle Along’ Returns to Center Stage
Imagine a 1921 Broadway show so outrageously successful that New York City officials had to convert a two-way street to a one-way thoroughfare to accommodate the intense traffic. Now envision that this musical was created, performed, directed and co-produced by African-Americans. Surely this would be mentioned at least once every February to commemorate Black History Month, right? (Read More Here.)
Deeply Rooted: The Complex Equation of What Makes You Black
...After centuries of oppression, forced rape and willing interracial relationships, African Americans are a people with a history that is not always clear of specific. Skewed history books and shoddy record keeping tell but a fraction of the story, however modern science may be able to lend a hand through DNA testing. (Read the whole story here.)