I’ve been amazed watching the skyrocketing rates of women, especially women of color, rushing across the border to achieve the particular look they desire. The stories I have been hearing lately about women traveling outside of the country to for low-cost cosmetic procedures resulting in permanent injuries – and death…
The 2023 Super Bowl deserves its place in (Black) history
This February will be remembered as a time when we not only celebrated Black history, we watched ourselves making it! The 2023 Super Bowl will make its mark in history, not just for Rihanna’s half-time performance, but because it’s the first time there will be two Black quarterbacks face off…
Unjustified police stops continue in communities of color. I know because it happened to me
When you arrive home early morning after a hard night of work only to discover your beloved house cat has gone AWOL, what else could possibly go wrong? Here at BLK News Now!, I seldom get personal, but like many of these videos I see of people recounting moments of…
My first celebrity gifting suite experience — and all the free swag
Gifting celebrities with expensive items for award shows have been around since the 90’s, and in our age of social media, gifting them swag for promotion can be pivotal to a company’s success. When the pandemic hit, the swanky star-studded events came to a screeching halt, along with the freebies.…
White lives have always mattered – that’s the problem, “Ye”
During Paris Fashion Week, America’s most controversial rap “artist” turned fashion designer Kanye West did what he does best: generate headlines. This time, he had a little help in the form of another controversial figure, Black female conservative commentator Candace Owens. The two strutted arm-in-arm at the Oct. 3 fashion…
Venus and Serena Williams: Black women who broke barriers and inspired a new generation
Growing up in Southern California, I couldn’t help but hear the stories about the two Black girls that crossed racial boundaries by playing tennis. Venus and Serena were inspirations to many girls living in urban communities across the world. They navigated their way through obstacles and persevered, becoming two of…
Why is swimming so “white”?
Recently during an episode of the BLK News Now! YouTube Vlog “FalCo Files,” I was presented with a question about my opinion of an annoying stereotype. I shared, that in my opinion, one annoying stereotype is the “myth” that I can’t swim because of a pervasive stereotype that Black people…
Providing mental health support for children of color more important than ever
Society is rapidly changing, and children of color in school today face pressures I never had to worry about when I was growing up. The mental health of children is more important now than ever. With Covid 19, the nation’s political/racial unrest, school shootings (which have become a sad norm),…
Back to School: For some kids, supplies are the least of their worries
Back to school has either arrived or is fast approaching for many children. For the millions of low-income students with food insecurities that depend on schools for free and/or reduced price breakfast to start the day — and lunches to sustain them from hunger — the school year could not…
WW2 Crisis: The forgotten tale of how women of color delivered our mail
This was a time before internet, email, and cellphones. A time before many of us can recall, but most of us know because of movie adaptations. Correspondence has become a casual expectation because of the many forms in which we can easily communicate now, but we forget how extremely important…
Black don’t crack, but skin cancer kills
Yes, Black is beautiful. And as much as Black people take pride in their skin and skin care, the truth is there’s a much more indiscriminate health problem than breast cancer, which I share last week. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the U.S., but…
Breast cancer: It doesn’t discriminate, yet Black women suffer most
Breasts. They drive men and women alike crazy — for different reasons. They give nutritional values for life, and often are viewed as objects for desire and sexual pleasure, but in the battle against breast cancer, it would suit both sexes to know just how deadly breasts can be —…
BET Awards: The catastrophe with silver linings
I’m a grateful person. I don’t ask for much, especially when it’s free, but this Sunday’s BET Awards had me asking “where did the money go?” I agree with Corey’s column about the failures of this awards show. There were more than a few eyesores that I can’t help but pick…
SCOTUS Roe v. Wade reversal may trigger a ripple effect
What’s the difference between 1973 and 2022? If you were to judge it by our regression in human rights, like me, you’d be wise to say not much. Nearly 50 years after Roe v. Wade was passed — by men (humans who will never know what it feels like to…
Who is the Grandmother of Juneteenth?
In case you didn’t know, grandmothers aren’t just for kids. And Juneteenth is no exception. Some people may not know Opal Lee, but she has been dubbed the grandmother of Juneteenth — and for good reason. For those who don’t know Opal Lee, she is a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and…
Gun violence in America isn’t a race problem
I think we, level-headed people, can all agree the increase in gun violence in the U.S., no matter the ethnicity of the individual behind the weapon, is a serious problem. But there is a bigger problem we are ignoring: politicians and people in positions of authority using their power as…
Reparations: Is there a price tag on generational suffering?
The national discussion on reparations is ramping up again. This time, thanks in part to a groundbreaking study in California, which BNN reported on this week. I have heard this discussion many times growing up. As an African American, it’s hard to escape. No pun intended. But I can’t help…
Beam me up, too
Last week, I read C.A.’s column about humanity looking for aliens yet treating other humans like they don’t belong here, and it got me thinking. We are so enamored with the possibility of life outside of Earth but lack appreciation for our own planet, and what we as humans are…