This Woman Is Launching Portland’s First Black Book Festival On Juneteenth Weekend
She’s bringing together the community through books! Meet the Black woman launching Portland’s first Black book festival on Juneteenth weekend, Oregon Live reports. Nanea Woods has been passionate about books since she was a teen, starting her first makeshift library at her all-girls high school, St. Mary’s Academy, in Portland. Back then, she put up […]
Philadelphia’s First Black TV Reporter, Trudy Haynes, Has Joined The Ancestors
She was 95-years-old. Philadelphia’s first Black television reporter, Trudy Haynes, has joined the ancestors, The Inquirer reports. Born Gertrude Daniels in New York, she was known warmly as “Miss Trudy” to many. Holding a degree from Howard University, she started her career as an advertisement model, becoming the first Black poster model for Lucky Strike cigarettes. […]
Woman Wears Wedding Dress That’s Been In Her Family For Three Generations In Honor Of 10th Anniversary
The dress is six decades old! A woman wore her wedding dress that’s been in her family for three generations in honor of her 10th anniversary. Kethlyn White married her husband John White on June 9, 2012. John took to social media to share a video of his wife in her wedding dress as Adele’s […]
Princeton Renames Building In Honor Of Laura Wooten, The Longest-Serving U.S. Election Poll Worker
She volunteered at the election polls for nearly eight decades! Princeton University is renaming a campus building in honor of Laura Wooten, the longest-serving U.S. election poll worker, Princeton reports. Laura Wooten was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina on December 19, 1920. Coming up during the women’s voting rights movement, she took to civic duty early, […]
Meet The HBCU Grad Behind ‘Juneteenth Joy’ Trademark
For us, by us! Meet the HBCU grad behind the “Juneteenth Joy” trademark, NBC News reports. Mario Bowler Sr. is an assistant director at his alma mater, Lincoln University, and the owner behind the trademark “Juneteenth Joy.” When Juneteenth was declared a national holiday last year by President Biden, Bowler says he knew the name would eventually […]
This 17-Year-Old Miami Student Got Accepted Into All Eight Ivy League Schools
She’s hoping to empower other young Black girls! A Miami teen got accepted to all eight Ivy League schools, CNN reports. Ashley Adirika is a 17-year-old student who recently graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. The child of a single mother of five, Ashley’s mom immigrated to the United States from Nigeria nearly thirty years […]
Myles Frost Makes History As Youngest Solo Tony Award Winner For Best Lead Actor In A Musical
Congratulations are in order! Bowie State University student Myles Frost has made history as the youngest solo Tony Award winner for best lead actor in a musical, The Baltimore Sun reports. Last month we reported on Myles Frost’s Tony nomination, electrifying audiences with his performance in “MJ” The Musical.” The 22-year-old spoke about his journey and how grateful […]
Jennifer Hudson Is Now The Second Black Woman to Achieve EGOT Status
She’s only the 17th person in history to receive such an honor! Jennifer Hudson becomes the recipient of the coveted EGOT status, the LA Times reports. The EGOT status is one of entertainment’s most illustrious honors, defined as a person who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award, the big four of the […]
Lena Horne Becomes First Black Woman To Have A Broadway Theater Named In Her Honor
It’s long overdue! Singer Lena Horne will become the first Black woman to have a Broadway theater named in her honor, The New York Times reports. Horne was an actor, singer, and activist who gained national recognition on stage and in Hollywood. A frequent face at protests and marches, Horne spoke out in favor of […]
Deion Sanders Covers Sports Illustrated To Talk Jackson State University & The Rise Of HBCU Football
The shift is here! Deion Sanders covers Sports Illustrated to talk about Jackson State University (JSU) and the rise of HBCU football, SI.com reports. Sanders joined JSU as a coach in the fall of 2020, looking to revive the small school’s football program to its glory days from the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. JSU is […]