Black Life. Black Culture. Black History. Black Joy.

December 2025

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Welcome to the BLACK ZONE 
 

BLACK ZONE Magazine is the bold new voice of Black life, Black culture, Black history, and Black joy.

In a time when Black stories are being hidden, distorted, or erased, our mission is clear: To elevate, uplift, and educate—unapologetically—on what it truly means to be Black in America.

December 2025

…along with additional features crafted with our community at the center.

You can browse stories by department using the menu above.

Together We Have Unlimited Power!

Message From The Editor

Image of palm trees Image of palm trees

This should not be new information to anyone: together, we have unlimited power.

It’s the very reason they — and we all know exactly who “they” are — have spent centuries working overtime to keep us divided, suspicious, and fighting one another. It’s a tactic as old as time. In this country, it’s as old as enslavement itself.

For generations, we’ve been conditioned away from unity. Conditioned away from building together. Conditioned away from trusting our own brilliance — our ingenuity, our creativity, our financial strength, our perseverance. Conditioned away from recognizing the simple truth: they know how powerful… no, how magical we are.

And that magic has always been their fear.

But if there was ever a time for us — Black people in this country, and honestly across the globe — to unite, uplift, support, and elevate one another, that time is right now.

Trump, Republicans, and large swaths of the American government are openly targeting us.Oligarchs and major corporations are signaling loud and clear that they don’t want to hire us, cast us, invest in us, or empower us — yet they still want our dollars.They’re erasing our history from schools.

Canceling films and TV shows that center our authentic stories instead of caricatures.

Rolling back DEI programs like we imagined discrimination, like the disparities weren’t measurable and decades in the making.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough.

And here’s the truth they don’t ever want us to fully realize:

We don’t need anyone to prop us up.

We never have.

We are creating businesses in every single industry imaginable — tech, fashion, food, beauty, wellness, media, finance, entertainment, hospitality, manufacturing, beverage, fitness, gaming, agriculture, home goods, you name it.

Our buying power is one of the strongest economic forces in this country. And if we ever decided to collectively focus that power inward?

Game over.

Imagine this…

Imagine if we owned studios and networks that we built from the ground up, telling our own stories without begging for permission or approval.

Imagine exclusively shopping at Black-owned grocery stores, or Black-owned department stores stocked with Black brands dominating every aisle.

Imagine all your Christmas gifts coming from Black businesses — toys, tech, clothing, books, fragrances, food, all of it.

That wouldn’t just be a “support Black business” moment.

That would be trillions of dollars circulating through our own communities, fueling our own industries, creating our own infrastructure.

There’s an old saying about “waiting for a seat at the table,” but let’s be honest — we don’t need a seat at their table.

We can build the entire kitchen, the dining room, the furniture, and the damn building if we choose to.

And that’s exactly why Black Zone Magazine exists — to spotlight Black entrepreneurs, to showcase our businesses, to highlight our legacy of innovation, resilience, and excellence. Every issue, we show the world the truth: we have everything we need right here among us.

So let’s be intentional. Not just this holiday season — but from here on out.

Let’s turn our power inward.

Let’s prioritize each other the way every other community does.

Let’s stop waiting for permission and start building our own future with our own hands.

I know I will.

I'm with you all the way,
Maurice Woodson
Editor-in-Chief

Portrait of Isabel Laurent, Editor in Chief

COMING SOON!

BLACK ZONE SOCIAL

You Thought You Knew...

The UnErasing & UnHiding of Black History

By Maurice Woodson

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The Whitewashing of Sarah’s Oil

Here’s the True Story of Sarah Rector — The 11-Year-Old Black Oil Millionaire They Tried to Rewrite

By Maurice Woodson

I adore Tonya Bolden — she’s one of the best voices in our literary canon. Her book Sarah’s Oil is essential reading, a rich and honest reflection of one of the most remarkable young Black women in American history. But let’s make something clear: this new film Sarah’s Oil is not Tonya’s book. When white Hollywood says “inspired by,” they mean that as loosely as possible.

This is exactly why we must tell our own stories.

The film — directed by white filmmaker Cyrus Nowrasteh and co-written with his wife Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh — isn’t a tribute to Sarah Rector’s courage. It’s a whitewashed Christian propaganda piece designed to soften the truth and repackage our history through a white savior lens. They took a story of exploitation, systemic racism, and perseverance, and turned it into a sermon — a distorted fantasy built to comfort white guilt and peddle Christian indoctrination to the Black community.

The movie stars Trump supporter Zachary Levi, cast as the so-called “white hero,” a man who never existed. Levi’s character is an invention — a mix of three white men who crossed paths with young Sarah and her family. The real story of Sarah Rector had no white saviors, no kindly mentors guiding her toward prosperity. What she had were predators — white “guardians,” oil men, and legislators who tried to steal her land, her money, and her freedom.

But Hollywood couldn’t sell that truth. So they created a fiction that made them feel righteous.

The True Story They Tried to Bury

Sarah Rector was born March 3, 1902, in what was then the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Territory — today known as Taft, Oklahoma. She was one of six children of Joseph Rector and Rose McQueen, both descendants of Black Muscogee Creek Indians. Her grandfather was enslaved by a Creek man named Reily Grayson, who later freed him.

After the Treaty of 1866, the federal government labeled their descendants as “freedmen” on the Dawes Rolls, giving them land allotments in the push to integrate Indigenous Territory with the Oklahoma Territory — the same process that later birthed the state of Oklahoma.

Sarah’s allotment was 159.14 acres of land — land white officials deemed “infertile” and useless for farming. The “good” land had already been set aside for white settlers. To make matters worse, her family was forced to pay a $30 annual property tax (roughly $1,000 today). When her father tried to sell the land, he was blocked by racist restrictions that kept Black landowners trapped in debt and dependency.

In 1911, desperate to ease the financial strain, Joseph Rector leased the land to the Standard Oil Company. Two years later, independent driller B.B. Jones struck oil — a gusher producing 2,500 barrels a day. Overnight, young Sarah became one of the richest children in America. Her well brought in $300 a day — equivalent to over $10,000 daily today.

That’s when white America came knocking.

Under the racist guardianship laws of the time, any Black or Indigenous person — especially minors — who acquired wealth was assigned a white guardian to “manage” their money. Sarah’s parents were stripped of control, and a white man named T.J. Porter was placed in charge of her estate. He, and others like him, siphoned off her wealth under the guise of protection.

By October 1913, Sarah’s royalties totaled $11,567 (nearly $370,000 today). Her land had become part of the lucrative Cushing-Drumright Oil Field, but her control over her own fortune had been stolen. White officials even declared her an “honorary white” — a legal fiction that allowed her to access white-only banks and stores, while still denying her the full humanity of being Black.

The hypocrisy was staggering.

Black Press and Black Leadership Fought Back

When rumors began spreading that Sarah was a “white immigrant child held captive in poverty,” the Black press stepped in. The Chicago Defender exposed the truth — that Sarah was a young Black girl being robbed by white guardians and the state of Oklahoma.

That article caught the attention of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and the newly formed NAACP, which sent special agent James C. Waters Jr. to investigate. Waters’ letter to the white financial guardian said it all:

“It is not possible to have her cared for in a decent manner by a member of a race which would deny her kind the treatment accorded a good yard dog.”

The NAACP launched a Children’s Department to investigate similar abuses of Black and Indigenous minors. By 1914, they had intervened in Sarah’s case, ensuring she was placed at Tuskegee Institute, where she studied under Booker T. Washington’s guidance.

The Woman She Became

After graduation, Sarah moved to Kansas City, bought a home on 12th Street, and lived a vibrant, independent life. She married businessman Kenneth Campbell in 1920 and later, in 1934, restaurateur William Crawford, with whom she remained until her death in 1967.

Sarah hosted parties attended by the likes of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, drove fine cars, and lived with dignity. Like many, she lost much of her fortune during the Great Depression, but she never lost her spirit or stability. She remained comfortable and respected — a living example of resilience in a world designed to erase her.

What They Don’t Want Told

Sarah Rector’s true story isn’t about divine blessing or white intervention — it’s about survival in the face of systemic theft. Every white “ally” who entered her orbit came to profit. It was cultural and economic genocide, wrapped in the language of “guardianship.”

And now, over a century later, white filmmakers are once again profiting off her name — removing the hard truth to make it palatable for church audiences and studio profits.

Let’s be clear: Sarah Rector didn’t need a white hero. What she needed — and finally received — was the protection of her own community, Black journalists, Black educators, and Black activists who refused to let her be erased.

Final Word

Sarah’s Oil is not her story. It’s their fantasy.

What Tonya Bolden wrote — and what history proves — is that Sarah Rector was a child who became a millionaire not by miracle, but by circumstance, resilience, and courage.

When Hollywood rewrites that, they’re not just distorting art — they’re distorting truth.

That’s why we do what we do here at Black Zone Magazine — to make sure the truth, our truth, never gets whitewashed again.

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Celebrating the Life of Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson

Honoring the Legacy, the Work, and the Enduring Spirit of a Civil Rights Giant

Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. has spent more than six decades bending the moral arc toward justice. At 84 years old, now facing serious health challenges and recently hospitalized on November 12 under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy, he remains a towering symbol of courage, conviction, and unrelenting advocacy.

No one knows how much time he may have left — and that is exactly why now is the moment to celebrate him. To honor the life he lived, the battles he fought, the doors he opened, and the global impact of a man who stood firm in his moral compass even when it cost him.

Rev. Jackson’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Black America’s ongoing fight for freedom. His story deserves not only to be remembered — it deserves to be lifted.

A Beginning Shaped by Faith, Struggle, and Opportunity

Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, his early years were marked by the complexity of being Black in the Jim Crow South. After his mother married Charles Jackson, he took his stepfather’s last name — a symbolic merging of new identity and new responsibility.

A gifted student and athlete, Jackson first attended the University of Illinois before transferring to North Carolina A&T State University, where he found both purpose and a platform. His education in sociology sharpened his understanding of the systems he later spent a lifetime challenging.

After college, guided by faith, he attended the Chicago Theological Seminary, eventually becoming an ordained Baptist minister. But even before the pulpit came calling, activism had already gripped his spirit.

Awakening: Joining the Civil Rights Movement

It was in the early 1960s, during the height of civil unrest, that Jackson stepped into national consciousness. As a young student in Greensboro, he protested segregation — a prelude to the larger movement he would soon help lead.

His life changed permanently in 1965, when he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inspired, Jackson joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and quickly became one of King’s most trusted young lieutenants.

He was soon appointed to lead Operation Breadbasket in Chicago — an SCLC program focused on economic empowerment, job access, fair hiring, and using economic pressure to force corporate accountability. Under Jackson’s leadership, Operation Breadbasket not only grew — it flourished, becoming a national model for Black economic organizing.

When King was assassinated in 1968, Jackson became part of the generation tasked with carrying the torch forward — and he did so fearlessly.

“Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.” — Rev. Jesse Jackson

Operation PUSH and the Birth of a National Leader

In 1971, Jackson stepped away from the SCLC and formed Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity). It was a bold move — a declaration that the fight for civil rights needed new institutions, new energy, and new strategy.

PUSH became the bedrock of his activism:

  • Organizing for economic justice
  • Demanding corporate responsibility
  • Advancing youth education through PUSH Excel
  • Using moral authority to pressure America into ethical accountability

The organization soon became a home for thousands who believed in collective empowerment, community uplift, and self-determination.

By the early 1980s, Jackson expanded his vision further, founding the National Rainbow Coalition, a multiracial, multi-issue movement advocating for racial justice, environmental equity, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, peace, and international human rights.

In 1996, PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition merged into what we know today as the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, one of the longest-running civil rights institutions in American history.

The Presidential Runs That Changed American Politics

In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson took his message to the national stage, running for President of the United States. Though he didn’t win the Democratic nomination, his campaigns were seismic. He shattered assumptions about who could run — and who could win.

He amassed millions of votes.

Registered millions of new voters.

Built a multiracial grassroots coalition before the term existed.

Won several primaries and caucuses.

And forced America to confront issues it preferred to ignore:

  • discriminative hiring
  • corporate divestment
  • police brutality
  • poverty
  • global apartheid
  • voter suppression
  • economic inequality

His message was radical for its time and foundational for the politicians of today. Many who stand in power now walk through doors that Jesse Jackson pried open with his bare hands.

A Global Peacemaker and Diplomat

While Jackson is often celebrated for domestic activism, his international diplomacy cemented his status as a global humanitarian.

He traveled abroad repeatedly — not for photo ops, but for life-and-death missions:

  • negotiating the release of American hostages
  • advocating for peace in the Middle East
  • speaking against apartheid in South Africa
  • meeting with world leaders to promote human rights and democracy

Wherever conflict arose, Jackson used his voice — and his presence — to push for peace. And he achieved results many thought impossible.

Honors, Recognition, and the Power of a Moral Voice

In 2000, Jackson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. It was recognition not just of his civil rights work, but of his global moral leadership.

Over the years he has also received:

  • The Spingarn Medal
  • Numerous NAACP awards
  • International peace and justice honors
  • Dozens of honorary degrees

Yet through all the accolades, Jackson never strayed from his mission: to uplift the poor, empower the marginalized, and speak truth to power — loudly, consistently, unapologetically.

His Final Chapter: The Spirit Still Fights

Jackson announced in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a battle many watched with admiration and heartbreak.

In 2025, his health worsened with a diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) — a rare, debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. On November 12th, he was hospitalized for complications.

But even there — even now — his spirit has not dimmed. Family reports say he is stable, breathing on his own, and still thinking about service.

One of his last public requests?

That 2,000 churches prepare 2,000 food baskets for families this holiday season.

Even in frailty, he is calling us to serve.

Even in sickness, he remains a vessel for justice.

A Legacy That Cannot Be Contained

Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life was not without controversy or complexity — few great leaders’ lives are. But his impact is undeniable. His courage reshaped American politics. His diplomacy saved lives abroad. His organizing built institutions that still stand today.

And his voice — that booming, prophetic voice — remains one of the most recognizable sounds of 20th- and 21st-century Black activism.

He taught us:

“Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.”

He lived by that creed.

He preached it, marched it, negotiated it, sacrificed for it.

Why We Celebrate Him Now

We celebrate Jesse Jackson now not because he is gone — but because he is still here.

Because flowers should be given while they can still be smelled.

Because this giant, this warrior, this bridge-builder deserves to see the love he poured into the world poured back onto him.

His story is not just history — it is blueprint.

His life is not just legacy — it is instruction.

And as long as the fight for justice continues, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s voice, work, faith, and sacrifice will continue to guide us.

Jesse Jackson's "Keep Hope Alive" Speech (courtesy of Now This Impact)

Entrepreneur Spotlight

Jackie Summers

By Maurice Woodson

The story of Jackie Summers—who became the first Black person in the United States to be granted a license to make liquor post-Prohibition—reads like a big-screen epic. By all accounts, Sorel shouldn’t even exist. The universe seemed to work overtime to block its success. But like any great film, a third-act twist changes everything.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Roots, Resilience, and a Family of Genius

Born in Queens, Summers comes from a lineage steeped in brilliance and cultural legacy. His grandparents immigrated from Barbados in the 1920s. His father was a pianist who played with jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. His mother was a groundbreaking research scientist conducting early studies on cigarette smoke’s effects on lab animals in the 1950s—during an era when labs didn’t hire Black people or women.

And he was no less multi-talented. Summers is a writer, artist, photographer, graphic designer, and, as many friends attest, “a funny-as-hell comedian.” After graduating from the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, he stepped into the publishing and advertising—industries. By the late 1990s, Summers had moved to Brooklyn

After committing himself to over nearly a quarter of a century, of which he excelled, it never truly fed his soul. He hated it. It was simply a grind, a paycheck, and not his purpose.

A Near-Death Wake-Up Call

In 2010, everything changed.

Summers was diagnosed with cancer, a moment he describes without theatrics but with raw honesty:

“I had only a 95 percent chance of death. I knew that when I closed my eyes in that hospital bed, I’d never expected to wake up again. But I did, and the tumor was benign and operable.”

After surgery, he returned to work—where a coworker immediately started arguing about the reds in image proofs not being “red enough.” That moment, he said, snapped reality into focus.

“I asked myself, ‘What the hell am I doing?’ What I really wanted more than anything else was to day-drink. I wanted to be around cool people in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, having good food and booze and talking about things that mattered—and I wanted to make money while doing it.

I told myself, ‘I’m going to launch my own liquor brand. How hard can it be?’ It turns out it’s nearly impossible. But I’d made my decision, and so it was done. I didn’t have a background as a food chemist, I didn’t have any money, and I didn’t have any contacts in the liquor industry, but I was going to start a liquor business.”

“I made history as the first Black man to get a license to make liquor since Prohibition. I’ve won several awards. I’m the keynote speaker—and you don’t even know who the fuck I am.” – Jackie Summers

A New Path — and a Caribbean Legacy

He quit his corporate job, did what he promised himself and jumped headfirst into an unfamiliar industry: liquor. But the inspiration was steeped in home and heritage.

“Growing up there was always a pitcher of sorrel sitting on the counter or the table,” Summers shared.

In 2011, he became the first person to figure out how to bottle it.

He wrote a business plan. Raised enough to launch a micro-distillery. Designed the bottle. Named the liqueur Sorel—a spelling chosen because his speech impediment makes “Sorel” easier to pronounce than “sorrel.”

At that time, a handful of Black people were winemakers or brewmasters, and a few were importers. But Black people with actual licenses to make liquor? Only one: Jackie Summers.

He founded Jack From Brooklyn, a small-batch distillery where he developed Sorel—a blend of hibiscus flowers, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, pure cane sugar, and organic grain. It was herbaceous, spicy, floral, beautifully deep.

The industry noticed immediately.

Sorel won competition after competition.

In New York City, it became the second-best-selling liqueur after St-Germain.

The New York Times called it “Christmas in a bottle.”

Everyone who tasted it fell in love.

Hurricane Sandy and the First Collapse

Then the universe struck back.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Jack From Brooklyn building. Years of work vanished overnight.

Summers became homeless. But he didn’t quit.

“It was a rough time. I ended up homeless for almost two years. But we have resilience and fight in our blood and DNA. I didn’t have it in me to just roll over and give up. I wasn’t raised that way.”

He pushed forward. Struggled. Tried to rebuild.

In 2015, he signed a multimillion-dollar contract. The company reneged.

Six months later, a second company reneged too.

His explanation?

“The only thing they told me was: ‘We’re not comfortable.’ They wanted the brand. They just didn’t want me.”

Being a Black liquor brand owner in 2012 meant walking into rooms where no one had ever met someone like him—rooms where he was mistaken for a delivery guy, rooms where security was called on him as he waited for scheduled meetings.

“Liquor is the original 'old boys’ network.”

By the end of the year, he paused everything again, forced back into survival mode.

Pandemic, Protest, and a Plot Twist

Then came another cosmic turn.

COVID shut the world down.

The streets erupted with Black Lives Matter protests.

And during one of those protests, Summers bumped into an old colleague from his publishing days—someone who told him he could get an article about Summers and Sorel in Esquire.

The angle?

Jackie Summers, the first Black person in U.S. history to receive a license to make liquor after Prohibition.

That article changed everything.

A major liquor company invested. Sorel relaunched in 2021.

And although Summers later distanced himself due to shady business practices, the momentum never stopped.

He won award after award. He landed on Drinks International’s “Bar World 100” in 2019 and 2020, and Imbibe Magazine’s “Imbibe 75” in 2021.

In 2022, Food & Wine named him one of its Drink Innovators of the Year.

The Moment He Reclaimed His Name

Despite the accolades, Summers noticed that people still didn’t know him.

At the Detroit Film Festival, while promoting Sorel, he stepped up to the microphone and said:

“I made history as the first Black man to get a license to make liquor since Prohibition. I’ve won several awards. I’m the keynote speaker—and you don’t even know who the fuck I am.”

It landed. Hard.

Because it was true.

A Culture Built by Us

Summers is direct about the history:

“In the agrarian South, Black people did all the cooking. Do we really think people who weren’t doing their own cooking were making their own drinks? Black people created cocktail culture, too. And because we couldn’t drink with white people, we created dive-bar culture as well. We have been essential not just in building the wealth in this country but carving out its drinking culture—and yet we are excluded from it. At least they try to exclude us. It’s a known fact that when Black people want to do something, nothing can stop them.”

Jackie Summers is proof of that.

Sorel Today — And the Next Era

Today, as Sorel prepares to expand both nationally and internationally, Summers is once again making history—this time by breaking funding records and redefining what Black ownership in the spirits industry looks like.

What started as a “crazy idea” has become a cultural and entrepreneurial phenomenon.

A story of grit, creativity, reinvention, and unstoppable drive.

Jackie Summers didn’t just bottle sorrel.

He bottled survival, legacy, and the refusal to let anyone else write the ending.

And now the world is finally catching up.

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Lifestyle & Leisure

More and More Black Couples Are Choosing Love Without Wedding Bells

By Maurice Woodson

Black love has never been one-size-fits-all. And in today’s world, more Black couples are boldly choosing an alternative path: lifelong commitment without the legalities of marriage. It’s a shift rooted not in fear of commitment but in a new understanding of partnership — one shaped by financial clarity, personal philosophy, emotional maturity, and the desire for a relationship on their own terms.

Across social media, relationship forums, and everyday conversations, a consistent theme is emerging: Black couples want the love, the union, and the celebration — just not necessarily the paperwork.

A New Definition of Commitment

Many couples see legal marriage as optional rather than essential. They’re choosing partnership defined by intention, communication, and shared values. The idea that a marriage license strengthens a relationship feels outdated to many.

As one sister put it during a community panel on modern relationships:

“I don’t need the state to validate my love. We validate each other every day.”

That sentiment reflects a growing philosophy: love is sacred, but the legal system isn’t always necessary to honor it.

Financial Clarity and Smart Planning

For some couples, the decision is simple: marriage is expensive, but partnership doesn’t have to be. Traditional weddings can cost tens of thousands of dollars — money many couples would rather invest in a home, business, travel, or their children.

A brother from Atlanta shared this perspective on his long-term relationship:

“We chose to skip the $30,000 wedding and put that money into real estate. That was our commitment — building something we both own.”

Alongside wedding costs, couples often consider the financial implications of legal marriage, from taxes to debt merging. Staying unmarried allows some to maintain financial independence while still enjoying the emotional bond of a lifelong partnership.

Philosophical, Spiritual, and Personal Beliefs

Some Black couples simply don’t believe marriage, as defined by law, fits their personal or spiritual values. They may see relationships as evolving journeys rather than institutions bound by the state.

A woman in a long-term partnership described it perfectly in a recent interview:

“We’re committed soul to soul. A signature doesn’t make that bond deeper.”

Others prefer to avoid the legal implications altogether — particularly divorce, which can be financially and emotionally draining. For these couples, keeping the relationship free from government involvement feels more authentic and less restrictive.

Celebrating Love Without the Contract

Let’s be clear: choosing not to legally marry does not mean avoiding celebration. Black couples are creating new traditions, new rituals, and new ways to honor their union.

Commitment ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular — fully curated events with vows, rings, music, family, and friends, but no courthouse filing. Some host “love parties,” joyful gatherings where couples publicly affirm their commitment without the formal structure of a wedding.

Many still exchange symbolic vows or rings. Others host ancestral ceremonies rooted in African tradition, bring their blended families together for unity rituals, or throw destination celebrations that focus on the joy rather than the legality.

What’s emerging is a culture where couples can craft a celebration that reflects who they are — without pressure to follow a blueprint.

Protecting the Union Without Marriage

For couples who want the benefits of partnership without the legal marriage contract, there are practical tools that offer protection and clarity:

• Powers of attorney for medical and financial decisions

• Health care directives to ensure their partner’s voice matters in emergencies

• Wills and estate plans to guarantee inheritance and property rights

• Domestic partnership agreements that outline rights and obligations

These measures give partners the freedom of a nontraditional relationship without sacrificing security.

Reclaiming Love on Their Own Terms

The choice to forgo legal marriage is not a rejection of commitment — it’s a redefinition of what commitment looks like. It’s rooted in autonomy, emotional intelligence, cultural clarity, and, in many cases, a desire to prioritize relationship health over societal expectation.

Black couples are saying:

Our love is real. Our commitment is real. And we define our relationship — not the state, not tradition, not outside pressure.

They are building families, buying homes, raising children, investing together, and celebrating love their way. And in doing so, they’re expanding the conversation about what Black partnership can look like in the modern era.

This movement isn’t about breaking tradition — it’s about evolving it. It’s about honoring the fullness of Black love, which has always been resilient, creative, and grounded in deep connection long before paperwork ever became part of the equation.

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Why Black Women Need Black Doulas in the Delivery Room

By Maurice Woodson

Recently, a story out of Indiana made national headlines: Mercedes Wells, a Black woman in active labor, was reportedly discharged from Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital and told to “go home and wait” — only to give birth just eight minutes later on the side of a road. Her family’s claim is both heartbreaking and infuriating. But tragically, it’s not an isolated incident.

A Crisis in Black Maternal Health

The statistics speak for themselves: Black women in the U.S. suffer maternal mortality at 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, more than three times the rate for white women (14.5), and significantly higher than for Hispanic (12.4) and Asian (10.7) women. 

Even after controlling for socioeconomic factors, Black women still face far higher rates of life-threatening pregnancy complications. A National Institutes of Health–funded study found Black women were 3.5 times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes, with the biggest drivers being hypertension disorders (like preeclampsia), postpartum cardiomyopathy, hemorrhage, and embolism. 

These are not just numbers — they are mothers, heirs, community pillars, and the fact they are dying at such disproportionate rates is a moral crisis.

The Role of Racism and Bias in Maternal Care

Experts increasingly point to systemic racism, implicit bias, and neglect in the healthcare system as root causes. In California, maternal health professionals have observed that even when you control for economic and health diferences, Black women still experience twice as many severe pregnancy complications or deaths. 

Community-based doulas — especially Black doulas — are uniquely positioned to combat these disparities. According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, doulas can mitigate the discrimination and loss of autonomy that Black birthing people often face, helping them advocate for themselves in a system that frequently devalues their voices. 

What Is a Doula — and What Do They Do?

A doula is a non-medical birth companion who supports a woman through pregnancy, labor, and sometimes postpartum. Their responsibilities include:

  • Providing continuous emotional, physical, and informational support
  • Advocating for the mother’s preferences and needs with medical staff
  • Helping to create a birth plan
  • Offering infant-care education or breastfeeding guidance
  • Monitoring for red flags and helping signal to medical staff when something may be wrong

For Black women, having a doula who understands their cultural, historical, and emotional needs — especially a Black doula — makes a critical difference in experiences and outcomes.

Medical Evidence: Why Doulas Help — Especially for Black Women

Research backs up what many doulas and families already know: the presence of a doula can improve birth outcomes, especially for Black mothers. A study from Rowan University found that doulas were linked with:

  • Lower cesarean (C-section) rates
  • Fewer preterm births and low-birth-weight babies
  • Increased clinical and social support, as well as improved maternal self-esteem  

These are not just nice-to-have benefits — they are life-saving benefits. Because C-sections come with higher risks (infection, hemorrhage, future pregnancy complications), reducing unnecessary surgical births is a big deal. 

Real-World Voices: Medical Professionals & Doulas Speak Out

In a qualitative study of 31 doulas in Florida, most of them identified racism as a significant factor behind maternal health disparities.  They described their work as “social surveillance” — not in a creepy way, but as being a constant advocate and watchful presence. They monitor symptoms, push for better communication with providers, and help clients navigate hospital systems that may dismiss or ignore them.

Further, a pilot study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that having a physically present doula in the room significantly reduced Black women’s reported experiences of racism during labor.  Many in the study said the doula improved their overall birth experience — not just medically, but psychologically.

The Power of a Black Doula

Why specifically Black doulas? Because they bring more than training: they bring shared experience. A Black doula may:

  1. Understand generational trauma, medical mistrust, and cultural nuances
  2. Speak up in ways that feel genuine and empowered rather than defensive
  3. Anticipate common forms of bias or neglect in hospital settings
  4. Be deeply committed to advocating for their clients’ voice, dignity, and safety
  5. Offer not just birth support — but a political, emotional, and spiritual safety net

Beyond Birth: Economic & Systemic Impact

Community-based doula programs don’t just save lives — they can save money and create healthier long-term outcomes. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement notes that continuous one-to-one support from doulas lowers total medical expenditures by reducing complications. 

Still, most doula programs serving communities with high inequities are funded by grants, not by insurance.  This must change — access should not depend on philanthropy.

A Call to Action: What Must Be Don

  1. Black women should be empowered to request Black doulas. Whether in birth plans or hospital registrations, having a doula listed can be a lifesaver.
  2. Policymakers must push for Medicaid and private insurance to cover doula services. States like Indiana (where the opening story happened) and others need to expand support.
  3. Doula certification programs should include training on implicit bias and hospital advocacy. As the Florida doulas suggested, this is a necessary step.  
  4. Hospitals should welcome doulas as partners, not outsiders. Their presence isn’t just helpful — it’s essential for improving maternal outcomes.
  5. Black communities should invest in building and sustaining Black doula networks. This isn’t just a matter of birth — it’s a matter of life, justice, and generational healing.

Final Thought

Mercedes Wells’ story is a chilling reminder — childbirth should never be a gamble. But when Black women have Black doulas by their side, they gain more than emotional support. They gain an advocate, a protector, a witness to their pain and power.

In a country where Black mothers are dying at unacceptable rates, Black doulas are a form of armor — culturally, medically, morally. They are lifelines. They are legacy-makers. And until we change the system, they are essential.

Resources

Let’s lift up Black doulas. Let’s support Black mothers. And let’s demand better — in the delivery room, in policy, and in our society.

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Navigating End-of-Year Holiday Blues

How Not to Fall Into the Abyss

The end of the year is supposed to feel warm, joyful, and full of celebration. At least, that’s what the commercials, movies, and holiday playlists tell us. But for many people — more than we often admit — the close of the year brings a different type of feeling: sadness, anxiety, disappointment, or a heaviness that seems to come from nowhere.

It’s what many refer to as the “end-of-year blues.”

And if you’ve ever felt them, you know it’s real.

These emotions don’t always come from a dramatic event. Sometimes it’s a combination of quiet pressures piling up at the same time: unmet goals, financial strain, complicated family energy, loneliness masked by forced celebration, or simply the emotional crash that comes after the excitement of the holidays fades away.

And while the end-of-year blues can be temporary, for some people these feelings can open the door to something deeper — depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), especially when shorter days and limited sunlight impact mood and energy.

This is why it’s important to pay attention.

Why the End of the Year Hits So Hard

1. The Weight of Unmet Expectations

As the calendar winds down, we naturally look back on the past year. If we’re not where we hoped to be — financially, professionally, emotionally, or personally — disappointment can creep in.

This feeling of “I didn’t accomplish enough” can quickly turn into “I failed,” even when that’s not true.

2. The Pressure and Expense of the Holidays

Let’s be honest: the holidays are expensive. Gifts, food, travel, events — and the pressure to “make it magical” for everyone else while you quietly sacrifice your own peace.

Financial stress is one of the top triggers of end-of-year anxiety.

3. The Emotional Come-Down After Celebration

When the holidays end, the adrenaline drops. The guests leave. The house quiets. And suddenly you’re left with… silence. The shift back to “normal life” can bring feelings of emptiness or lack of direction.

4. Family Dynamics and Social Obligation

Not everyone’s family gatherings are filled with warmth. Old tensions, unresolved trauma, or simply being around people who drain instead of uplift can lead to anxiety or emotional exhaustion.

5. Less Sunlight, Colder Weather

Shorter days affect the body’s natural rhythm. Less sunlight means less serotonin — which can influence mood. This is where end-of-year blues may overlap with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Symptoms to Watch For

  • Persistent sadness, heaviness, or emptiness
  • Loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy
  • Low energy or feeling constantly tired
  • Irritability or agitation
  • Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
  • Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally “foggy”
  • Feelings of hopelessness

If these feelings last for weeks or interfere with daily life, it may be more than seasonal blues.

So How Do You Keep From Falling Into the Abyss This Holiday Season?

The first step is simple but powerful:

Acknowledge what you’re feeling.

Don’t ignore it. Don’t minimize it. Don’t “push through.”

Your emotions are valid, and naming them gives you power over them.

But acknowledgment alone isn’t enough. Below are grounded, practical, real-life ways to navigate the holiday blues — especially for our community, where healing isn’t always talked about, and people are often expected to “tough it out.”

1. Talk About How You’re Really Feeling

Silence is where depression grows. Connection is where it loses power.

Call a friend. Talk to someone you trust. Say the quiet part out loud.

You’re not a burden — you’re human.

If talking to loved ones feels too hard, reaching out to a therapist, counselor, or support group is a strong step toward healing. Mental health professionals are not just for “crisis moments.” They’re for guidance, clarity, and support.

2. Don’t Isolate Yourself

Isolation deepens the blues.

Even if you’re not in a festive mood, surrounding yourself with people — or simply being in a safe space — can help stabilize your emotions.

This can look like:

  • Visiting a friend for an hour
  • Attending a community event
  • Going to a café or library just to be around energy
  • Joining a virtual meetup or online community

Connection matters. It reminds you that you’re not alone.

3. Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself

You don’t have to “end the year strong” just because social media says so.

You don’t have to buy extravagant gifts.

You don’t have to pretend everything’s perfect.

Define your own pace.

Protect your own peace.

Allow yourself to be human — not superhuman.

4. Create Your Own Traditions

The holidays don’t have to look one particular way.

Sometimes the pressure comes from trying to recreate what we’ve seen on TV or social media.

Give yourself permission to create new traditions that actually feed your spirit:

  • A self-care day with music, candles, and a warm meal
  • A movie marathon of your favorite Black classics
  • Journaling and reflecting at your own pace
  • Volunteering or donating — helping others can lift your own mood
  • A “No Pressure Day” where you do only what feels right

Tradition is what you make it.

5. Move Your Body — Even Lightly

You don’t need a gym membership or a strict routine.

A 10-minute walk. Stretching. Gentle movement. Fresh air.

Movement releases endorphins — your body’s natural mood boosters.

When your mind feels stuck, moving your body helps unstick it.

6. Practice Mindfulness or Spiritual Grounding

Moments of stillness can restore clarity.

This can be:

  • Prayer
  • Meditation
  • Breathing exercises
  • Listening to affirmations
  • Lighting incense or sage
  • Reading scripture or inspirational passagesGrounding gives your mind space to breathe.

7. Limit What Drains You — Including Social Media

The holiday comparison game is real.

Scrolling can make you feel like everyone else is thriving while you’re struggling.

Not true — but emotionally it can feel real.

Take a break.

Turn off the noise.

Make your mental health the priority.

8. Prepare for Financial Realities

You don’t have to spend big to show love.

Set a budget that honors your emotional and financial well-being.

You’re not obligated to go broke to prove anything.

Love isn’t measured by price tags.

9. Seek Professional Help When Needed

If you notice signs of deeper depression — persistent sadness, hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep, withdrawing from others — reaching out to a professional is not weakness.

It’s courage. It’s strength. It’s survival.

There are also culturally centered therapists and mental health organizations who understand our community’s experience and unique challenges.

10. Remember: Joy Is Still Within Reach

Even in heavy seasons, joy doesn’t disappear. It may hide. It may dim. But it never leaves.

Sometimes the journey back to it is slow — but every step counts.

You deserve joy. You deserve peace. You deserve rest. You deserve support.

And you deserve to feel whole — not just during the holidays, but all year long.

Final Word

The end of the year can bring out emotions we don’t always want to face. But you don’t have to fight them alone, and you don’t have to fall into the abyss.

Recognizing what you’re feeling is the first step; choosing to seek support is the next.

This season, give yourself grace. Give yourself space. Give yourself compassion.

And remember:

Your mental and emotional well-being matters — not just to others, but to you.

Give Yourself the Gift of You

This Holiday, Make Yourself the Priority

By Maurice Woodson

As the year winds down, many of us are carrying more than we care to admit — exhaustion layered on obligation, quiet stress hidden behind strength, and a calendar full of responsibilities that never seem to let up. We pour into our families, show up for our friends, push through at work, and try to keep everything together with a smile. But somewhere in the middle of the hustle, one person often gets pushed to the very bottom of the list: you.

This holiday season, that needs to change.

Give yourself permission — real permission — to slow down, breathe, and reclaim your peace. Treat this season not as another deadline to meet or another weight to carry, but as a moment to give yourself the one gift you may have withheld all year long: attention, care, and intentional rest.

Pamper Yourself Without Apology

Make yourself the priority in ways big and small. Book the spa appointment you’ve pushed off ten times. Step into the salon and finally get the hairstyle you’ve been dreaming about. Treat yourself to a pampering daycation — solo, if you want true peace, or with someone who brings nothing but joy to your soul.

This is not indulgence. This is restoration.

Get that deep-tissue massage and let those knots fade away. Sink into a quiet moment with candles lit, music playing, a glass of wine in hand, and no one calling your name. Meditate. Journal. Stretch. Do yoga. Or simply sit still long enough to hear yourself think again.

Learn to Receive, Not Just Give

The truth is, we’re so used to being the ones who hold everything down that we often forget another life skill: letting others take care of us.

This season, make it known — lovingly, firmly — that you are off the clock. Let your partner handle the errands. Let your family step in and cook. Let your friends give you the space or support you need. You don’t have to be available to everyone at all times. You don’t have to carry the holiday on your back.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is rest.

Celebrate Yourself Like You Celebrate Everyone Else

Buy yourself something beautiful — not because you “earned it,” but because you exist. Take yourself out for brunch. Dress up for no reason. Give yourself a quiet morning, or a late night of laughing with people who feed your spirit. Do something luxurious, something simple, something healing — anything that reminds you that you deserve joy just as much as anyone you care for.

This Holiday, Choose You

The world will always have demands. The lists will always refill. People will always call, ask, need, expect.

But you?

You only get one body, one mind, one spirit. And you cannot pour from a cup that you never stop to refill.

So this holiday season, let the gift be you — rested, nourished, restored, and reminded of your worth.

Make yourself the priority.

Not next year.

Not “when things calm down.”

Right now.

Give yourself the gift of you — fully, unapologetically, and with love.

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Entertainment

Is Beyond the Gates Being Overly Criticized and Held to an Impossible Standard?

By Maurice Woodson| Opinion

I’ve been watching soaps since I was four years old. Another World, As the World Turns, Guiding Light, All My Children, Passions, Bold and the Beautiful, Dark Shadows, Generations, and The Young and the Restless — which I’ve watched since day one and missed fewer than 100 episodes since March 26, 1973. And that doesn’t even include the prime-time giants like Dallas, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, Dynasty, and The Colbys.

So trust me — I know my soaps. I know the tropes, the rhythms, the character arcs, the long game. And that’s exactly why the intense criticism being thrown at Beyond the Gates feels not only misplaced, but unfair.

A Historic Moment in Daytime TV

Beyond the Gates is groundbreaking for several reasons. It is:

  • the first new daytime soap in 25 years,
  • the first modern soap to center a predominantly Black cast,
  • and the first to anchor its storytelling around a powerful Black family in a predominantly Black community.

Yes, there was Generations, and it mattered for its time. But Generations split its narrative focus between a Black family and a White family — and let’s be real, the White family was positioned as more powerful and influential. The Black family owned an ice cream business while the White family ran the town.

Beyond the Gates is different. Created by soap veteran Michele Val Jean, the series places the Dupree family — an affluent, multigenerational Black American family — at the center of its universe. Their ancestors founded the very town “beyond the gates.” The world is theirs. The stories branch out from them. And surrounding them is a cast that reflects real Black America with depth, dignity, and range.

Smart, Layered, Respectful Storytelling

The writing is sharp. The dialogue lands. The storylines are crafted with intention. The characters are multidimensional, flawed, smart, messy, and human — exactly what makes a soap opera compelling.

Real-world issues show up naturally — not as after-school specials, not as trauma porn, not as distractions. They’re woven in with care:

  • teen sex and consequences
  • racism
  • cancer
  • homelessness
  • divorce
  • redemption arcs
  • secrets, lies, and moral complexity

Every thread feels purposeful. Every story plants seeds. Every scene foreshadows what’s coming. It’s a master class in plotting — and a noticeable step above the flat storytelling we’ve seen on some daytime soaps for years.

And the proof is in how the show handles its most emotional arcs: how they slow-burned Dani and Andre’s casual relationship into a grounded, believable, grown-folk love story — with dialogue so honest and intimate it made the audience fall for them too. Or how Martin’s nightmares, teased gently over time, unfolded into a powerful revelation about real-world sundown-town racism. Or the metamorphosis of June — from a homeless addict to a loving mother, steady confidant, and quiet backbone not just for the children she gave up a decade ago and has now reconnected with, but for the entire family. And we can’t overlook the moving, insightful, endearing, and uplifting conversations guided by the family’s Matriarch and Patriarch, Vernon and Anita Dupree. These characters are handled with care — always allowing their intellect, empathy, dignity, and sense of collective family pride to shine through.

So Why the Criticism?

Despite all that, some viewers on social media critique every single detail of the show — at length, often at volume, and sometimes with hostility.

They say

  • The Duprees “aren’t powerful enough.”
  • Certain characters “aren’t written right.”
  • Some characters get “favorable treatment” simply because they’re messy.
  • The villains are “too villainous” while the heroes are “too soft.”
  • They’re boycotting until the writing “gets better.”

But here’s the thing: that’s what a soap is.

Characters evolve. Villains redeem themselves. Heroes fall. Lovers break up, make up, cheat, cry, scheme, and claw their way back to each other. Messy is part of the DNA.

Without the Ashleys and Bills, Dani and Andre’s love story wouldn’t feel impossible. Without the Leslies stirring the pot, there would be no chaos to navigate. Sisters who can’t stand each other can — and should — become sisters who must figure out how to coexist. And some characters have to be messy homewreckers. That’s called drama.

A Double Standard No One Wants to Admit

Let’s be honest about something else:

No other soap gets ripped apart like this.

On Y&R, Phyllis Newman has been loud, messy, intrusive, over-the-top, and chaotic for three decades, yet viewers rarely call for her to be fired or sidelined. On Bold and the Beautiful, characters repeat the same lines for months, recycle the same love triangles for years, and speak in dialogue that sometimes sounds like a middle-school creative writing assignment — yet fans praise it as “classic soap.”

Nobody is threatening boycotts over there.

But Beyond the Gates? One scene someone doesn’t like and suddenly

  • “This show is unrealistic.”
  • “The writing is bad.”
  • “Cancel it.”
  • “I’m done.”

The scrutiny isn’t equal. The grace isn’t equal. And the patience definitely isn’t equal.

Why the Unfair Treatment?

Three reasons stand out:

1. Social Media Loves Negativity

Critique gets clicks. Negativity builds clout. Outrage is rewarded. And unfortunately, some viewers would rather be “first” with a complaint than patient with a story arc.

2. A Generation Trained for Instant Resolution

Most viewers today are used to limited series — 6 to 12 episodes where every character arc resolves neatly. Soaps don’t work like that. They never have. And they never should.

3. Black Representation Is Being Held Under a Microscope

For generations, Black characters on soaps were:

  • background furniture
  • stereotypes
  • plot devices for White leads
  • or reduced to domestic workers and sidekicks

So now that we finally have a soap led by a powerful, complex Black family, some viewers don’t see representation. They see an opportunity to nitpick. They search for flaws, weaknesses, or anything that doesn’t match an unfair ideal.

They want the Duprees to be perfect superheroes — not human beings with real emotions, conflicts, and mistakes.

But perfection isn’t drama.

And it definitely isn’t soap opera storytelling.

My Closing Thought

At a time when Black representation is under attack — and airing on a network with oversight that connects directly back to Trump, a man who would erase Black existence if he could — the over-criticism, the nitpicking, the boycotting threats…

None of that helps us.

It helps the people who never wanted this show to exist in the first place.

We finally have a soap — the first in 88 years since Guiding Light began — that centers Black life, Black love, Black complexity, Black legacy, and Black storytelling. One that hires Black actors, Black writers, Black directors, Black crew, stylists, makeup artists, and set designers.

Tearing it down publicly doesn’t just hurt a TV show.

It threatens jobs, representation, and our cultural presence in a genre that has excluded us for decades.

Critique the storylines — absolutely. Feedback matters. Writers need to know what lands and what doesn’t. But maybe do it with care. Maybe do it without public boycotts. Maybe do it with the same grace other soaps have received for generations.

Because Beyond the Gates is not just a soap. It’s a moment. It’s a milestone.

It’s representation many of us have waited our entire lives to see.

And it deserves the chance to grow without being held to an impossible standard.through the media and the formation of legal systems.

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Chadwick Boseman’s Legacy Immortalized: A Star That Will Never Dim

By Sean Henderson

When Chadwick Boseman’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, gently placed his shoes atop his newly unveiled star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the moment felt like something more than ceremony. It was communion. A quiet, powerful tribute from the woman who knew him best to the man the world continues to celebrate. Standing beside her were Michael B. Jordan and Letitia Wright — two co-stars who became family — offering strength, presence, and love as the world honored a king.

Chadwick Boseman’s posthumous star is more than a recognition of fame. It is the physical engraving of an artistic legacy that continues to reverberate around the globe. Boseman didn’t just play characters; he resurrected them, honored them, and made them immortal.

A Star Earned Long Before It Was Given

While the world first met him through screens, Chadwick’s journey began decades earlier — shaped by an unshakeable work ethic, a profound sense of responsibility, and the unwavering support of mentors who believed in him.

One of those mentors was Denzel Washington.

When Boseman was a student at Howard University, a select group of acting students were given the chance to attend the prestigious British American Drama Academy. When grant money ran out, their attendance was in jeopardy — until Washington quietly stepped in and paid the tuition. Boseman would later reveal the gift publicly, honoring a man who poured into him long before the world knew his name.

It was a full-circle moment: a giant helping raise another giant.

A Filmography Rooted in Purpose

Boseman’s body of work reads like a syllabus on Black excellence, each role chosen with intention and cultural responsibility.

Early Television Roots

Before the world caught on, Boseman sharpened his craft in guest roles on shows like Law & Order, CSI: NY, ER, Third Watch, and Lincoln Heights. Even then, he carried himself with a stillness and depth that foreshadowed what was coming.

Breakthrough Roles

His first seismic impact came with 42 (2013), portraying Jackie Robinson. Boseman stepped into the role with restraint and fire, humanizing a legend often flattened by history books.

He followed that with another towering performance in Get On Up (2014), transforming himself into James Brown with uncanny physicality and precision.

In Marshall (2017), he embodied a young Thurgood Marshall — not yet the Supreme Court titan, but a hungry, brilliant NAACP attorney fighting for justice. Boseman understood that portraying icons meant capturing their humanity, not just their myth.

Becoming a Global Symbol

And then came King T’Challa.

Black Panther (2018) wasn’t just a film — it was a cultural realignment. Boseman’s performance gave the African diaspora a superhero who was regal, compassionate, and grounded. He carried Wakanda like a sacred offering, even as he privately battled cancer.

He reprised the role in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, always with grace and conviction.

Final Masterpieces

In Da 5 Bloods (2020), he played Stormin’ Norman — the spiritual center of the film — delivering a performance that felt almost prophetic. That same year, he gave one of the finest performances of his career in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, capturing the pain, ambition, and fury of Levee Green. It earned him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination — honors that felt like both recognition and farewell.

A Star That Points Us Forward

As Taylor Simone laid Chadwick’s shoes on that star, she reminded us that this wasn’t just Hollywood tradition. It was testimony.

The shoes symbolized the path he walked — a journey marked by brilliance, discipline, and an uncompromising devotion to telling our stories with dignity. The presence of Jordan and Wright affirmed what many already know: Chadwick Boseman built community everywhere he went. His artistry wasn’t just respected — it was cherished.

His star now sits among Hollywood’s brightest, but even that feels small compared to the light he left behind.

Chadwick Boseman didn’t simply succeed in Hollywood. He expanded what was possible.

And now, his name is etched in the place where legends belong — forever.

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FREDDY LEWIS AND THE WAITING GAME

By Harold Bell

In 1971, my homeboy Marvin Gaye shook the world with What’s Going On — a prophetic cry for justice drenched in soul. A year later, in February 1972, I launched my pioneering sports talk show, Inside Sports. That same summer, Black America filled theaters for the now-classic film Super Fly, with Curtis Mayfield’s unforgettable soundtrack.

On Inside Sports, I’d open my show with Marvin’s masterpiece and close it with Mayfield’s “Freddy’s Dead.” To this day, the name Freddy carries me back to those radio years — and it also pulls me to another Freddy, one very much alive: Freddy Lewis, a quiet giant still serving young people in Washington, DC.

Now, Freddy Lewis is at the center of the powerful new documentary The Waiting Game — a film that exposes how the NBA erased him and 24 other living ABA players from pensions they rightfully earned. Dozens more never lived long enough to fight back.

The ABA Wasn’t the NBA’s Shadow — It Was Its Blueprint

The documentary makes one thing clear: the American Basketball Association wasn’t a knockoff. It had its own identity, swagger, and innovation — from the red-white-and-blue ball to the high-flying style that changed the way basketball is played.

Freddy Lewis remains the only man to start in the NBA, then play all nine seasons of the ABA with the Indiana Pacers. Despite his impact, he’s not in the Hall of Fame. His jersey doesn’t hang alongside George McGinnis or Reggie Miller in Indiana’s rafters.

That omission isn’t an oversight — it’s an injustice.

The Human Cost of Being Forgotten

Watch the documentary and you’ll understand the gravity of this fight.

  • James Jones, a six-time ABA All-Star, is driving an Uber in Las Vegas while waiting for the pension he earned.
  • Darnell “Dr. Dunk” Hillman, slam dunk champion and two-time ABA title winner, hasn’t seen a dime of pension money from his five ABA years.
  • Sam Smith, another ABA champion, had to rely on health insurance from a Ford plant job — not from his years as a pro athlete. A photo of him on his deathbed finally stirred a sliver of empathy from the NBA’s leadership.

These men built the foundation that today’s NBA billion-dollar empire stands on. They dunked before “Air” Jordan. They popularized the three-point shot decades before Stephen Curry ever picked up a ball. They played through injury, discrimination, and low pay — and then were left behind.

Their pain is the story the NBA would rather forget.

A Billion-Dollar League Ignoring Its Pioneers

The biggest revelation doesn’t even appear in the documentary itself:

A year after The Waiting Game was released, the NBA signed a $76 billion media rights deal. Meanwhile, many ABA veterans — mostly older Black men — are dying poor, sick, or abandoned.

As Candace Parker noted in the Washington Post (10/31/2025), the math doesn’t lie:

  • The NBA: billions in profit
  • The players who helped shape the game: a mere $25 million “tip” toward pensions

The NBA owners should be ashamed. And the NBA Players Association? Complicit.

The Battle for Dignity

The Waiting Game is more than a sports documentary. It is a fight between billion-dollar corporate greed and basic human dignity. It unravels the legal trail behind the ABA–NBA merger, revealing how 1% interests can swallow whole the lives of working men who gave their bodies to the game.

I remember these players well. I broke bread with many of them. Many sat across from me on Inside Sports. They were legends long before ESPN decided who deserved to be called one.

Players like:

  • Dr. J
  • Spencer Haywood
  • George Gervin
  • Connie Hawkins
  • Jimmy Jones
  • Gene Littles
  • George McGinnis
  • Roland “Fatty” Taylor

Their names should ring out like church bells, not fade into silence.

The True Unsung Heroes

While the documentary brings the players’ stories forward, the real unsung heroes behind the film are Scott Tarter, John Shuford, and Christopher Smith. Without their relentless advocacy and storytelling, this documentary might never have existed. Their work is a testament to what unwavering commitment to justice looks like.

Final Word

After watching The Waiting Game, I can say without hesitation: this is essential viewing.

For basketball fans.For history lovers. For anyone who believes in fairness.

This story belongs on the big screen — because the men who lived it deserved a big life.

The documentary is available at: TheWaitingGameMovie.com ($10)

Support it. Share it. Let the world know what the NBA refuses to acknowledge.

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Watch The Waiting Game Documentary

The Waiting Game is a powerful documentary that reveals an incredible battle between the NBA and a tiny not for profit working to gain full recognition for the men of the ABA -- a colorful, exciting, rival league that arguably invented the modern game of basketball. It's a fight for benefits the players of the ABA felt were promised, but never delivered. While following an investigation of the legal trail of the ABA-NBA merger, key impact journalism and the advocacy for justice, the film reveals the lines that can stand between raw corporate interest and basic human dignity.

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Food & Drink

Recipes, Restaurants, Hotspots, Cocktails, Brands

FROM MY KITCHEN

Maurice Woodson

One of my favorite parts of the holidays has always been the cooking — the aromas, the memories, and the dishes passed down through generations. Alongside the staples we all love, like turkey and that legendary Mac and Cheese (check out the November issue of Black Zone Magazine for my recipe), I always return to the comfort of collard greens, pot roast, and mashed potatoes drenched in rich onion gravy.

These are the flavors that raised me, grounded me, and still bring family to the table.

Here are a few of my go-to recipes. Enjoy — and make them yours..

Deep South Soul Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs fresh collard greens (washed, stemmed, and chopped)
  • 1 smoked turkey leg or wing (or 2 if small)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 pineapple (optional, balances bitterness)
  • 6–8 cups chicken broth or water (enough to cover greens)
  • Salt to taste (go light at first—the smoked turkey may add enough)
  • Hot sauce or vinegar-pepper sauce (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Boil the smoked turkey:
    In a large pot, add the smoked turkey and cover with 6–8 cups of water or broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the meat is tender and starting to fall off the bone.
  2. Flavor the pot:
    Add chopped onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, black pepper, sugar (if using), and apple cider vinegar. Stir and simmer for another 10 minutes to build flavor.
  3. Add collard greens:
    Add greens in batches, letting each handful wilt slightly before adding the next. Once all greens are in, cover the pot and reduce heat to a low simmer.
  4. Simmer low and slow:
    Cook for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until greens are tender and flavorful. Remove the turkey, shred the meat, discard bones and skin, then return the meat to the pot.
  5. Adjust seasoning:
    Taste and add salt if needed. You can also add more vinegar or a splash of hot sauce for punch.
  6. Serve:
    Serve hot with cornbread, hot sauce, and your favorite soul food sides.

Onion Gravy Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

For the Pot Roast:

  • 3–4 lb chuck roast (or brisket)
  • Salt & black pepper
  • 2 tbsp oil (vegetable or olive)
  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp of dry Beefy Onion Soup mix
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup red wine (optional; use more broth if omitting)
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 2 bay leaves

For the Onion Gravy:

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1–2 cups strained pot roast liquid (from above)

For the Mashed Potatoes:

  • 2.5 lbs potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russets), peeled and cubed
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ½–¾ cup milk or cream (warm)
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Sear the Roast

  • Pat roast dry. Season all sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on dry onion soup mix
  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot. Sear roast on all sides until browned (about 3–4 min per side). Remove and set aside.

2. Cook the Onions

  • In the same pot, add a bit more oil if needed. Add sliced onions and cook until caramelized and soft (10–15 min).
  • Stir in garlic and tomato paste. Cook 1–2 min until fragrant.

3. Deglaze & Simmer

  • Add wine (if using) and scrape up browned bits.
  • Add Worcestershire, beef broth, thyme, and bay leaves.
  • Return roast to pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook:
    Stovetop: Simmer on low for 3–3.5 hours.Oven: Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 3–3.5 hours. Slow Cooker: 8 hours on low.

4. Make Mashed Potatoes

  • Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (15–20 min). Drain.
  • Mash with butter and warm milk/cream. Season with salt to taste.

5. Make Onion Gravy

  • Once roast is done, strain about 2 cups of the cooking liquid. (Keep the onions!)
  • In a saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour. Cook 1–2 min to form a roux.
  • Slowly whisk in strained liquid. Simmer until thickened. Add reserved onions if desired.

6. Serve

  • Slice or shred roast. Plate over mashed potatoes and spoon over onion gravy generously.

Optional Add-ins

  • Add carrots and parsnips to pot roast for a one-pot meal.
  • Use horseradish or Dijon mustard in mashed potatoes for a kick.

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Another of my favorite things to make during the holidays are my signature martinis: Peaches and Cream Martini , Mint Fresh Martini, and Coconut Lime Martin.

Peaches and Cream Martini Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz vanilla vodka
  • 1 oz peach schnapps
  • 1 oz heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version)
  • 1 oz peach nectar or puree
  • Ice
  • Fresh peach slice (for garnish, optional)

Instructions:

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add vanilla vodka, peach schnapps, heavy cream, and peach nectar.
  3. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
  4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
  5. Garnish with a peach slice if desired.

Want it a little sweeter or creamier? You can tweak the peach nectar or cream to taste.

Mint Fresh Martini recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz white crème de menthe
  • Fresh mint leaves and chocolate crumbles (preferable mint chocolate) for garnish.
  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add vodka and white crème de menthe.
  3. Shake well until chilled.
  4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
  5. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and chocolate crumbles.

For an extra kick add whip cream. Trust me, you can never go wrong with whip cream.

Coconut Lime Martini Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz coconut rum (e.g., Malibu)
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz cream of coconut (e.g., Coco López)
  • Ice
  • Optional: lime wheel or toasted coconut for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add coconut rum, vodka, lime juice, and cream of coconut.
  3. Shake well until chilled (about 15 seconds).
  4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
  5. Garnish with a lime wheel or a rim of toasted coconut, if desired.

This Holiday Try Non-Alcoholic Beverages

25 Black-Owned Food Companies

By Maurice Woodson

When we think of the holidays, food is always at the center — the memories, the flavors, the family traditions. But too often, we overlook the countless Black-owned food brands delivering quality, culture, and craftsmanship to our tables every single day.

So this season, and every time you shop, be intentional. Here are 25 Black-owned food and beverage companies that deserve a permanent spot on your grocery list.

EXAU Olive Oil

Created by wife-and-husband duo Skyler and Giuseppe, EXAU blends modern culinary needs with 75 years of Calabrian olive-growing mastery. Their award-winning EVOO is grown and pressed on their estate in Calabria, Italy, offering some of the richest, boldest flavors on the market.

Website: https://exauoliveoil.com

Southern Culture Artisan Foods

This mother-daughter team crafts affordable, easy-to-make foods inspired by Southern comfort — pancake and waffle mixes, bacon rubs, grits, fried chicken mixes, and more. They also offer recipes to help bring each product to life.

Website: https://southernculturefoods.com

Ghetto Gastro

Founders Jon Gray, Lester Walker, and Pierre Serrao fuse the flavors of the Global South into a bold culinary movement. From toaster pastries to plant-based pancake mixes and spicy syrups (available at Target), Ghetto Gastro is reimagining what breakfast can be.

Website: https://ghettogastro.com

BLK & Bold Coffee and Tea

With every bag sold, BLK & Bold commits 5% of profits to youth programs and ending youth homelessness. Their premium coffees and teas deliver flavor with purpose — available online and at Target.

Website: https://blkandbold.com

Michele’s Syrup

Using her great-great-great grandmother’s honey-based recipe, Michele Hoskins built a brand now featured in major grocery stores nationwide. Her syrups pair perfectly with breakfast foods or sweet and savory dishes alike.

Website: https://michelessyrup.com

Glory Foods

A 30-year staple, Glory Foods offers pre-seasoned canned vegetables, fresh greens, beans, hot sauces, and baking mixes — all crafted to deliver authentic Southern flavors straight to your table.

Website: https://gloryfoods.com

Iya Foods

From cassava flour to nutrient-rich powders, Iya Foods brings African-inspired superfoods and alternative flours to U.S. kitchens. They offer recipes and tips to help elevate your cooking.

Website: https://iyafoods.com

Trade Street Jam Co.

Not your typical jam — these chef-crafted spreads work beautifully in dressings, cocktails, sauces, marinades, and more. A Black-woman–owned brand that pushes creativity and flavor.

Website: https://tradestjamco.com

The Salty Heifer

This bakery delivers gourmet cakes, cookies, pies, and cheesecakes made with love, precision, and Michelin-level technique.

Website: https://thesaltyheifer.com

Sweet Dames Artisan Confections

Inspired by Bahamian family recipes, Sweet Dames offers decadent coconut macaroons, CocoMallow sandwiches, and more — all wheat- and dairy-free.

Website: https://sweetdames.com

Zach & Zoe Sweet Bee Farm

A family-operated brand producing raw, nutrient-rich, flavor-infused honey — from lavender to ginger to blueberry. One taste will make you rethink grocery-store honey forever.

Website: https://zachandzoe.co

Pitmaster LT’s

Authentic Kansas City barbecue sauces and rubs perfected over 30 years. Made with clean, premium ingredients and sold nationwide, including at Whole Foods.

Website: https://pitmasterlts.com

Yo Mama’s Foods

Clean, simple, preservative-free sauces inspired by the flavors of a real mom’s kitchen. Their pasta sauces, dressings, condiments, and cooking wines redefine store-bought convenience.

Website: https://yomamasfoods.com

Mama’s Biscuits

The country’s first gourmet biscuit company, offering ready-to-eat biscuits in sweet and savory flavors. Made with real butter and free of artificial ingredients.

Website: https://mamasbiscuits.com

Symphony Chips

What started as a spice blend grew into a full gourmet potato chip brand offering bold, all-natural flavors. A family-run snack company with serious crunch.

Website: https://symphonychips.com

KYVAN Foods

Founded by former NFL player Reggie Kelly, KYVAN brings soulful Southern flavors with sauces, jams, and seasonings based on family recipes.

Website: https://kyvan82.com

Vicky Cakes

A 45-year-old pancake recipe turned vegan-friendly, preservative-free mix that delivers unbelievably fresh, fluffy pancakes and waffles.

Website: https://vickycakesonline.com

A Dozen Cousins (Beans & Rice)

Inspired by Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American dishes, A Dozen Cousins offers clean-ingredient beans, rice, and sauces that are quick to prepare and deeply flavorful.

Website: https://adozencousins.com

EssieSpice

Ghana-born founder Essie Bartels creates small-batch spices and sauces blending West African flavors with global influences — perfect for marinades, dips, and desserts.

Website: https://essiespice.com

A Dozen Cousins (Seasoning Sauces)

From Jamaican Jerk to Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa, their line of seasoning sauces brings global flavor to everyday home cooking. (Yes — same brand, different product category.)

Website: https://adozencousins.com

Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks

Women- and minority-owned company offering mini heirloom popcorn, cheese balls, crackers, and more — featured repeatedly on Oprah’s Favorite Things.

Website: https://pipcorn.com

Sorel Liqueur

Created by Jackie Summers — America’s first licensed Black distiller — Sorel blends hibiscus, clove, ginger, and spices into a signature liqueur rooted in Afro-Caribbean tradition.

Website: https://sorelofficial.com

Maison Noir Wines

Founded by award-winning sommelier André Hueston Mack, Maison Noir offers expressive, beautifully crafted wines along with a line of graphic tees and merch.

Website: https://maisonnoirwines.com

Abisola Whiskey

A smooth blend of bourbon and malt whiskey finished through a unique triple-oak filtration process. Created by founder Abisola Abidemi to honor celebration and craft.

Website: https://abisolawhiskey.com

Grown Folks Hard Seltzer

The first Black- and woman-owned hard seltzer brand inspired by soul-food flavors like peach cobbler and ambrosia — made with real fruit juice and sold at major retailers.

Website: https://grownfolksseltzer.com.

This isn’t about racing. It’s about the rare, quiet thrill of tracing a legendary path in the calm of an early morning or a golden Riviera dusk, in your own car, at your own pace. Here are five unforgettable spots to savour along the way.

Discover Some Of Our Black-Owned BBQ Restaurants to Know in 2025

Gates Bar-B-Q has multiple locations across Missouri and Kansas. Since 1946, this family-owned empire has built its reputation on ribs, chicken, sausage, and even mutton. One of their signature moves? Letting you buy their legendary sauce to take home.

Jones BBQ in Kansas City, Kansas, is run by sisters Mary “Shorty” Mosley and Deborah “Little” Jones — real trailblazers in a male-dominated BBQ world. Their secret? Their family’s homemade sausage, rib tips, and burnt ends smoked to perfection.

Smoki O’s in St. Louis, Missouri is the spot for St. Louis–style BBQ. Known far and wide for their rib tips, brisket, and smoked turkey — this place is a local institution.

LC’s Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, Missouri brings that old-school, no-frills BBQ. Go for the mixed plate (ribs, burnt ends, chicken, turkey, pork), and don’t miss their fried mushrooms and spicy green beans on the side.

The Bar-B-Q-Shop in Memphis, Tennessee is a family-owned pit that has been turning out award-winning BBQ for over 30 years. They even bottle their own seasonings and sauces.

Backyard BBQ Pit in Durham, North Carolina is known for that “low and slow” oak- and hickory-smoked meat and a sweet, soulful house sauce. Expect a line — this is local BBQ at its best.

Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina is run by one of the most celebrated pitmasters in the country. He smokes entire hogs, chops by hand (skin included), and brings serious tradition and heart to every plate.

Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot in Selma, Alabama has been family-operated since 1942. More than just food, it’s a meeting place: in the civil rights era, activists gathered here. Try their pulled pork or rib sandwich for a taste of history.

Jones Bar-Q Diner in Marianna, Arkansas may be one of the oldest Black-owned restaurants in the U.S. (open since ~1910), and they still use a secret family recipe and a 12-hour smoking process. 

Patillo’s Bar-B-Q in Beaumont, Texas has been in the Patillo family for five generations. Their ribs and links are smoked gently, with recipes that haven’t changed much in over a century.

Gatlin’s BBQ in Houston, Texas is legendary locally. Their brisket and spare ribs bring major flavor and old-school BBQ vibes.

Stutts House of Bar-B-Q in Tulsa, Oklahoma is run by Almead Stutts, who treats customers like family. Their chopped beef or rib tips will hit you with nostalgia, and the buttermilk pie is a must.

Lem’s BBQ House in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1954 by two brothers, is known for its hot links and rib tips — a true legacy rib joint.

Johnson’s BBQ in New York (near Brooklyn) offers a solid, classic BBQ experience in the city — meat, smoke, and soul.

Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi in New York is more upscale, but it’s BBQ-inspired: creative smoke-infused dishes from a celebrated chef.

Honey 1 BBQ in Chicago, Illinois has a cult following. Their wood-burned rib tips, smoked chicken, and even smoked fish dinners are fan favorites.

Uncle J’s Bar B Que in Chicago, Illinois keeps the city’s BBQ legacy alive. Chef Jimmie Hughes delivers excellent hot links, turkey, ribs, and chicken.

B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque in Savannah (and Atlanta), Georgia, run by Bryan Furman, offers heritage hog rib slabs, whole chicken, brisket, and creative BBQ fare (think tacos, sandwiches) — all at fair prices.

Walls’ BBQ in Savannah, Georgia might be small and low-key, but their pulled pork sandwich is a pilgrimage-level bite.

Bludso’s BBQ in Los Angeles (and other locations) comes from Kevin Bludso, who infused his Texas roots into his BBQ. Their brisket, pulled pork, beef links, ribs — and yes, that “Dinosaur Bone” rib — are iconic.

Smokin Woods BBQ in Oakland, California is both a restaurant and catering company. Their St. Louis spare ribs, tri-tip, and sweet BBQ baked beans are seriously addictive.

Parks Old Style Bar B Q in Detroit, Michigan is a classic shack with history. Since the 1960s, they’ve been smoking meat with their own special recipes and sauce.

Pollard’s BBQ in Memphis, Tennessee started small in 1995 and has grown. Their smoked ribs, pulled pork, and sausage bring that deep Memphis soul.

Backyard Barbeque in New York (Brooklyn) is a popular, no-frills place for classic BBQ.

Lady’s Seafood & Soul Food in the Bronx, New York brings soul food and BBQ together — you’ll find soul staples plus smoky BBQ touches.

Cornbread Brooklyn in New York leans Southern: their BBQ + Southern comfort food combo is hard to beat.

Sweet T’s Southern Eatery in Montclair, New Jersey dishes out Southern comforts — ribs, smoked meats, and those side dishes you’ve been craving.

Brothers Smokehouse BBQ & Soul in Orange, New Jersey is another gem: soul food meets BBQ, with ribs, brisket, smoked chicken, and more.

New Must-Visit Black-Owned BBQ Spots to Add in 2025

On top of your list, here are a few more Black-owned BBQ joints that are especially worth visiting in 2025:

  • Black’s Barbecue (Lockhart, TX) — A Texas institution since 1932. Their post-oak–smoked brisket, sausage, and ribs carry on decades of family tradition.  
  • Sam’s BBQ (Austin, TX) — This historic Black-owned spot just reopened in East Austin and is beloved for brisket, ribs, sausage, and more.  
  • Berry’s BBQ (Burien, WA / Seattle area) — A Black-owned staple. Known for rib tips and soulful BBQ.  
  • Lil Red Takeout & Catering (Seattle, WA) — Erasto “Red” Jackson’s spot mixes Jamaican flavors with BBQ — jerk chicken, ribs, smoked meats, and banana pudding.  
  • Grady’s BBQ (Dudley, NC) — Named in a Bon Appétit list of must-try Black whole-animal BBQ spots.  
  • Scott’s Bar-B-Que (Hemingway, SC) — Also from the Bon Appétit list — whole-animal, deeply rooted pitmaster legacy.  
  • Ricky’s BBQ (Hell’s Half Acre, SC) — Another Bon Appétit pick, known for soulful, traditional BBQ.  
  • Helen’s Bar-B-Que (Brownsville, TN) — A Black BBQ Hall of Fame inductee, and spotlighted by BBQ historians.  

Politics

The New Debt Trap: How 50-Year Mortgages Threaten Black Wealth

By Maurice Woodson

America has a way of reinventing bondage with a smile. Today’s version doesn’t come with chains — it comes with longer loans, looser credit rules, and headlines promising “access,” “opportunity,” and “affordability.” But beneath the marketing is the same old architecture of extraction aimed squarely at the youngest, Blackest generation of potential homeowners.

Two recent policy shifts prove it. First, Fannie Mae has scrapped its minimum 620 credit-score requirement, replacing it with something dressed up as “holistic risk assessment.” Translation: new scoring models built on alternative data — rent payments, utilities, subscription patterns, and algorithms that see deeper into your financial life than ever before.

Then comes the second move: the Trump administration floating 50-year fixed-rate mortgages as the next great innovation. Sold as a solution to high housing costs, the idea stretches a loan over half a century. You’ll pay less each month but massively more over your lifetime. Trump himself even posted a graphic putting his face next to FDR’s 30-year mortgage legacy, as if inventing five decades of debt is some grand patriotic act.

Look closely. Separately, these policies seem like reform. Together, they’re a blueprint for permanent indebtedness — a system that pulls Black and brown buyers in just as homeownership is slipping out of reach.

A New Era of Debt, Wrapped in Inclusion

For Black folks, this story has a familiar beat. We were shut out of wealth for generations through redlining, contract buying, subprime lending, and every trick the housing market could manufacture. Now the game has changed again.

This time, they aren’t locking us out — they’re letting us in, but only through the side door of never-ending debt.

A 50-year mortgage doesn’t expand ownership; it delays it into old age. Imagine buying a modest $420,000 home at 30 years old on a 7% loan. With a 50-year mortgage, your monthly payment drops a few hundred dollars — but the interest balloons. Instead of roughly $580,000 in interest on a 30-year loan, you’ll cough up around $720,000 over 50 years. That’s nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in interest alone.

It’s not homeownership. It’s lifelong leasing disguised as ownership.

And while you’re paying more, you’re building equity slower. The bank gets guaranteed profit for half a century. You get the burden. They get the asset.

Credit Scores Aren’t Being Reformed — They’re Being Mutated

At the same time, eliminating traditional credit-score minimums is being framed as liberation. Instead of judging you by a number, they’ll now plug you into models built on your personal data streams. The same data that once excluded us — spotty credit histories, inconsistent incomes, life lived under survival conditions — is now the very data being mined, quantified, and fed into financial risk engines.

Access to credit is not the same as access to wealth.

What’s being offered is not freedom; it’s surveillance with a credit limit.

The system isn’t less biased — it’s simply becoming more intimate. Instead of judging you from afar, it now studies your habits up close: your rent, your phone bill, your payment patterns, your digital footprint. A profile built not to empower, but to predict — and profit from — your struggle.

Why This Is Happening Now

Demographics are destiny. And the numbers are shifting. By 2045, America is projected to be “minority white.” Younger generations — the ones buying homes, taking out loans, and driving the economy — are overwhelmingly Black, brown, and diverse.

If the old wealth-holding class can’t maintain dominance through population, they’ll do it through economics.

Fifty-year mortgages. Algorithmic underwriting. Lifetime data harvesting. All designed to ensure the profits keep flowing upward even as the country’s face changes.

They don’t have to own your labor anymore if they can own your debt.

They don’t have to control your body if they can control your credit score.

They don’t have to deny you entry if they can charge you for access forever.

The Modernization of Economic Capture

From sharecropping to student loans to subprime lending, every generation of Black America has been promised the same thing: opportunity with a trap door.

Today’s trap comes disguised as inclusion. It tells young Black buyers, “You’re approved!” But the fine print says, “You’ll owe us for the rest of your life.”

It tells us, “Your data finally works for you.” But the reality is, “Your data finally belongs to us.”

It tells us, “We’re expanding access.”

But access without equity is just a more expensive form of exploitation.

This is how a country perfects slavery without ever saying the word.

Not through whips or chains — but through interest, algorithms, and debt designed to outlive you.

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Gen-Z Steps Up: Hakeem Jeffries Gets a Democratic Socialist Challenger for 2026

By Maurice Woodson

The 2026 midterm season hasn’t even heated up yet, but the first sparks are already flying — and they’re coming from Generation Z. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, now faces an unexpected primary challenge from 27-year-old New York City Council member Chi Ossé.

Ossé officially filed his paperwork on Monday, ending months of speculation. For a while, the Brooklyn council member insisted he wasn’t eyeing Congress. But in a recent interview with Axios, he made it clear that the moment — politically and generationally — has shifted.“The situation calls for new leadership,” he said, signaling a campaign built on urgency, youth energy, and a very different vision from the Democratic establishment.

What makes Ossé’s run so striking is not just his age — it’s the way he communicates. While traditional politicians still struggle to master basic social media, Ossé has built a loyal online base with a rapid-fire, political-education video series that blends civic lessons, national commentary, and community issues with a Gen-Z edge. His messaging mirrors the digital fluency that helped shape figures like New York City’s incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose meteoric rise came through the same blend of activism, ideology, and online storytelling.

If Ossé wins, he would join Rep. Maxwell Frost — the first Gen-Z member of Congress — as part of a rising wave of younger, more progressive lawmakers pushing the Democratic Party leftward. And that’s exactly what makes this primary so symbolic. Jeffries, seen as a steady hand and heir to Democratic leadership, represents institutional power. Ossé represents a generation that believes the institution itself needs a reset.

This isn’t just a race for a New York seat. It’s an ideological clash, a generational showdown, and a preview of where Democratic politics is headed as the country becomes younger, more diverse, and more impatient with incrementalism.

Gen-Z didn’t just grow up watching politics. They grew up in crisis — police violence, racial uprisings, climate disasters, student debt, housing insecurity, and rising fascism. They are stepping into political spaces not as spectators, but as disruptors.

Ossé’s challenge to Jeffries signals that even the most secure leaders in the party will be forced to contend with a generation unwilling to wait its turn.

And make no mistake:

2026 is shaping up to be the election where Gen-Z stops knocking on the door — and starts kicking it open.

Trump Administration Quietly Begins Dismantling the Department of Education

By Maurice Woodson

The Trump administration has never been subtle about its intentions when it comes to public education. One of Donald Trump’s long-standing campaign promises was to dismantle the Department of Education altogether. And now, under Education Secretary Linda McMahon, we’re watching that promise shift from rhetoric to reality.

This year alone, McMahon has taken a sledgehammer to her own department — laying off more than 1,000 workers, shrinking divisions tasked with protecting civil rights, and offloading core responsibilities to agencies with little to no experience in public education. Quiet moves, big consequences.

A Department Being Carved Up

According to the AP, key duties traditionally housed within the Department of Education are being reassigned across the federal government. Programs under the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Postsecondary Education are being pushed over to the Department of Labor, as if job training and actual education are interchangeable.

The Department of Health and Human Services will now oversee child-care grants for college students. The Interior Department will take over the Indian Education Department, inserting one more layer between Native communities and the resources they’re already struggling to secure.

Let’s be clear: the Department of Education can’t be shut down without Congress — but these moves effectively hollow it out from the inside. A slow, administrative dismantling.

Mounting Concern — Even Within Trump’s Own Party

Educators, school districts, and policy experts are sounding the alarm. Even some Republicans are questioning whether these agencies are equipped — or willing — to take on responsibilities rooted in equity and student protection.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) issued a rare rebuke:

“The department’s core offices are not discretionary functions. They are foundational… They safeguard civil rights, expand opportunity, and ensure every child, in every community, has the chance to learn, grow, and succeed on equal footing.”

The New York Times reports widespread fear about how programs serving students with disabilities will fare under this reshuffling. These are services that require specialization, not bureaucratic hot-potato.

Education Experts Call It What It Is

Kevin Carey of the nonpartisan New America think tank didn’t mince words:

“Wasteful, wrong, and illegal.”

He added that McMahon is building a “bureaucratic Rube Goldberg machine” — an overly complicated mess that wastes taxpayer money while outsourcing vital programs to agencies never designed to handle them.

And in a move dripping with irony, the administration announced these changes during American Education Week — a week meant to honor public schools and the people who keep them running.

Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, pushed back forcefully:

“Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students — they want to rob them of their futures.”

A Department Under Siege From Within

Under McMahon, the department’s civil rights division — one of the most critical protectors of marginalized students — has seen a sharp decline in resolved cases. When you cut half your staff, the backlog becomes the point, not the side effect.

It’s also worth noting: before being handed the keys to America’s public education system, Linda McMahon’s most famous qualification was taking a Stone Cold Stunner on WWE television. That image is starting to feel metaphorical — because she’s now dealing a finishing move to her own department.

What’s at Stake

What’s happening isn’t just bureaucratic reshuffling. It’s a direct hit on:

  • Civil rights protections
  • Special education services
  • Federal oversight of inequity
  • Support systems for low-income and marginalized students

This is the slow erosion of one of the few federal agencies designed to expand opportunity, not shrink it.

Right now, educators and policy leaders across the country agree on one thing — and you don’t hear this often in 2025:

Nobody likes this. Not conservatives. Not progressives. Not the people expected to clean up the fallout.

The dismantling has begun. Whether Congress steps in — or lets it continue — will shape the future of education for an entire generation of American children.

Viola Fletcher, Lasting Witness of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111

A century after surviving one of America’s darkest chapters, she became its loudest, clearest voice.

America has lost a living link to one of its greatest injustices. Viola Fletcher, the oldest survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — and one of the last remaining witnesses to the destruction of Black Wall Street — has passed away at 111 years old.

Her death was announced in a statement by Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, marking the end of a chapter that stretched from Jim Crow segregation to today’s ongoing fight for racial justice. Only one survivor now remains: Lessie Randle, also 111.

A Childhood Interrupted by Terror

Fletcher was just 7 years old when the prosperous, majority-Black Greenwood community was invaded by white mobs in a violent, coordinated assault. Greenwood — home to nearly 10,000 Black residents and proudly known as Black Wall Street — was an oasis of Black entrepreneurship, culture, and stability in an era of racial hostility.She remembered the sweetness of her early childhood:

• Her stepfather, Henry Ellis, working multiple jobs to provide.

• Wednesday and Sunday church services at the local Baptist church.

• Neighborhood men churning homemade ice cream.

• Women bringing pies, layer cakes, and joy into community gatherings.

Then came May 31 and June 1, 1921 — the days that changed everything.

White residents, fueled by racism and false accusations, tore through Greenwood with guns, firebombs, and airplanes. Homes and businesses were reduced to ashes. As many as 300 Black people were killed, and thousands more were left homeless.

For years, Fletcher carried those memories in silence. America looked away. Tulsa buried the truth. And survivors were left to rebuild their lives with no compensation, no recognition, and no justice.

A Voice the Nation Could No Longer Ignore

In 2021, at 106 years old, Viola Fletcher stepped into the U.S. Capitol and delivered testimony that shook the country. With a steady voice, she told lawmakers:

“I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street… I have lived through the massacre every day.”

Her courage helped reignite national awareness of the massacre and renewed calls for reparations. She did not seek pity — only accountability.

Fletcher became, in her final years, a symbol of resilience, memory, and the refusal to let history be whitewashed or forgotten.

A Century-Spanning Legacy

Viola Fletcher lived long enough to see America finally acknowledge what she endured as a child. Her life was a testament to the power of survival — and the responsibility to tell the story.

She leaves behind a legacy written not just in grief, but in strength. Her testimony kept the truth alive. Her presence reminded the world that the wounds of Tulsa were not ancient history — they were living memory.

And now, as another witness passes on, the responsibility to carry that truth forward falls to us.

News & Headlines

Ryan Coogler to Produce Epic Film on Mansa Musa, the Richest Man in World History

Ryan Coogler is taking Black storytelling back to the motherland. The acclaimed filmmaker is teaming up once again with Michael B. Jordan to bring the life of Mansa Musa — the 14th-century emperor of the Mali Empire — to the big screen.

Often cited as the richest human being in recorded history, Mansa Musa’s wealth is estimated at an astonishing $400 billion in today’s money. His empire controlled the gold and salt trades, the era’s most valuable resources, giving him unmatched economic power and global influence.

The film, currently in early development, will explore Musa’s reign, his legendary generosity, and his historic 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca — a journey so extravagant it destabilized gold markets across regions.

Coogler’s vision promises a sweeping, majestic retelling of an African ruler whose story is long overdue for cinematic respect.

Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111

Viola Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols announced Monday. Fletcher was just 7 years old when white mobs set fire to her community in Greenwood — a thriving Black district known as Black Wall Street — killing up to 300 people and destroying one of the most prosperous Black neighborhoods in U.S. history.

A century later, Fletcher became a powerful voice for justice, testifying before Congress at age 106 about the terror she witnessed and urging the nation to deliver long-overdue reparations. Her passing leaves only one known survivor, Lessie Randle, also 111.

Fletcher’s life stretched from Jim Crow to the modern era, and she carried Greenwood’s story with dignity, strength, and unwavering truth.

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Woman Forced to Give Birth on the Road After Hospital Sent Her Home — Doctor and Nurse Fired

A shocking and preventable tragedy has triggered national outrage. Mercedes Wells, a pregnant Chicago mother, was discharged from Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana, while in active labor — despite contractions just one minute apart.

Wells says she was never taken to a labor and delivery room. Instead, she waited six hours before a nurse instructed her to leave. Minutes after being forced off the property, Wells delivered her daughter, baby Alena, in the family car on the side of the road.

Her husband’s Facebook post went viral, sparking public pressure. By Friday, the hospital confirmed that the doctor and nurse involved in her care are no longer employed.

Wells says she is grateful her baby is healthy — but deeply traumatized that her birth story became a roadside emergency caused by negligence rather than nature.

Donald Glover Reveals He Suffered a Stroke Last Year

During a recent performance, Donald Glover — also known as Childish Gambino — revealed a private health battle that forced him to cancel his New World Tour last year.

Glover shared that he suffered a stroke, later learning he also had a hole in his heart. He has since undergone two surgeries to repair the condition.

The artist described the moment it happened: severe headaches and distorted vision while in Louisiana, followed by a doctor confirming the stroke.

Glover is now recovering and back to performing, but the revelation underscores how close he came to a life-altering emergency.

Judge Tosses Indictments Against Letitia James After Ruling Trump’s Prosecutor Was Illegally Appointed

The legal fallout from the Trump era continues. A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases brought against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, ruling that the prosecutor assigned to target them was illegally appointed.

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie found that the Justice Department hurried to install a Trump-aligned lawyer — Lindsey Halligan — who did not meet the qualifications to serve in that role.

The ruling is a stinging rebuke of the administration’s efforts to weaponize the justice system against Trump’s political rivals.

Although both defendants asked for the cases to be dismissed with prejudice, the judge instead dismissed them without prejudice — leaving the Justice Department to decide its next move, if any.

Reggae Icon Jimmy Cliff, Star of “The Harder They Come,” Dies at 81

The world has lost a musical giant. Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae trailblazer whose voice and artistry helped carry the genre across the globe, has died at 81.

His family announced the news on social media, thanking fans for a lifetime of support: “Your love was his strength throughout his whole career.”

Cliff’s impact is immeasurable. With classics like “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” and “Vietnam,” he brought uplift, resistance, and spirit to the global stage.

He also became an international star through his unforgettable role as Ivan in the 1972 film “The Harder They Come”, a movie that introduced reggae to the world and influenced generations of artists.

From Kingston’s early music scene — alongside future legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh — to worldwide acclaim, Jimmy Cliff’s legacy stands tall. His voice, his fire, and his message live on.

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Editor-in-Chief: Maurice Woodson

Contributing writers: Sean Henderson, Harold Bell

Art Director: M.S. Woodson

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