Maryam Muhammad

Twenty-two-year-old communist emcee and producer Ghais Guevara is an upcoming act with no shortage of buzz surrounding his work. With punchy, relevant lyrics and consistent releases, the Philadelphia-born, New Jersey-based rapper has repeatedly proven himself fit for stardom.

Black women are labeled political when simply trying to exist, from Jada Pinkett Smith's hair follicles to Megan Thee Stallion's lyricism. Whether it's fashion, music, writings, or films, it's rare for a Black woman to create art that is not overly and overtly politicized. As the late great Toni Morrison said, "All good art is political! There is none that isn't."

“Fascism: its most advanced form is here in Amerika.” — George Jackson

The Norwegian playwright and theater director, Henrik Johan Ibsen, coined the phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” In other words: a picture can show you something on the surface, but it can mean more than what meets the eye. Many people are unfamiliar with the original form of this quote, which was written as, “A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.” Some of us may only be interested in what the world has to offer at face value; others want their...

Apparently, it seems like people could care less about refugees when they are Black and Brown. Maybe the rules have changed and seeking asylum is only for white folks. When have you ever seen refugees be embraced this heavily, especially from countries in the Northern cradle of the globe?

When many of us think about Black women and their reproductive health, we are not only reminded of the horror stories we hear about the delivery room, but the origins of the gynecological practice as well. Not only are Black women more likely to die in childbirth at a rate that is three to four times as high as white women, but they are also more likely to die from causes that other groups of women usually manage to avoid while in labor.

If you are familiar with any aspect of Black history, it’s no secret that Black people around the world have waged a struggle against white supremacy and inequality in exchange for freedom and justice. For generations, many Black revolutionaries and organizers have fought tooth and nail for a better tomorrow, even going as far as to be martyred for the cause.

For more than a decade, India Shawn has been a quiet force in the R&B world and in the music industry as a whole. Once a member of the writing collective for Full Circle Music, Shawn honed her skills as a songwriter and wrote for big-time acts such as El Debarge, Monica, Keri Hilson, and Chris Brown.

For many American citizens, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about the worst economic era seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. While the American government gave rich companies corporate bailouts to keep them afloat, millions of civilians lost their jobs and struggled to pay for basic necessities such as rent and groceries.

New York City is a melting pot, encompassing a variety of different cultures and ethnic groups that live there. Home to millions of people, New York is a place that reflects the world, with a multitude of traditions and customs constantly learning to co-exist and live together.

For as long as race has been an issue in society, there has been a struggle to identify, comprehend, and overcome the circumstances that it creates. Racism permeates multiple facets of societal life, obviating itself in education, governance, and beyond. People have always stood on the frontlines of the fight against oppression in various ways. While some put their energy into shifting notions and attitudes around race, others sought to define the effects of it on a psychological level.

July 17th is celebrated as National Tattoo Day. For many people today, tattoos are a form of personal expression and an extension of one’s identity. When it comes to the ink, each word, symbol, or picture holds a special meaning or significance to the person it appears on.

When a Black Woman’s Autonomy and Success Leads to Misogynoir

The word “autonomy” can mean many things to a person. It can be the right to control what happens to your body. Your right to practice self-love and self-care. Maybe even your right to simply exist and take up space. But oftentimes, not everyone has access to these things.

Though I definitely have preferences and aspirations, I know that those things won’t limit my future or come in the way of what I want as an individual. However, I would be absolutely lying if I said that my mind was always set up this way, because it was quite the opposite.

Philadelphia native and member of the legendary band, The Roots, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, recently came out with his debut film Summer of Soul, which tells the story of the unforgettable 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.