September 26, 1962: On this day A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., becomes the first African American member of the Federal Trade Commission. In 1962 President Kennedy appointed Higginbotham to the Federal Trade Commission making him the youngest and first African American to ever serve on a federal regulatory commission. But this was not the only first that he accomplished. In 1964 Higginbotham was appointed the first African American Judge of the United States...
Black with No Chaser
September 17, 1983: On this day 20-year-old Vanessa Williams became the first Black Woman to win the Miss America crown in its 63 year history. This was an extraordinary feat considering the fact that Blacks weren’t even allowed to be contestants during the competition’s first 30 years. Less than a year later, on July 23, 1984, Williams gave up her crown after nude photos of her surfaced. Williams learned that Penthouse magazine would...
September 16, 1925: On this day one of the most widely respected and best blues musician of all time was born. Commonly referred to as the “King of the Blues,” he is considered to be among the genre’s most groundbreaking and influential artists. Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. King introduced a sophisticated style...
Flewed Out: For Colored Girls Who Twerk in the Light When Gentrifications Shadows Try Hiding Them
8 min read
Ok So Boom… I got to rant real quick. I constantly pay attention to instances of how whiteness is often rewarded and celebrated and even exalted when existing in black spaces. I recently watched a video posted on shaderoom of a White (or non-black) girl twerking. First, I’ll give her her credit she was good. By good i mean she wasn’t bad- I don’t mean she was the greatest...
