Challenges to history met with baton of knowledge
Louisiana’s AP African American Studies teacher champions courses, community lectures to expand knowledge Malcolm Reed is running the modern leg of an ancient relay race. He teaches AP African American Studies and carries the collective history and culture of all African descendants, then passes a baton full of facts and details. He believes knowledge is … Continue reading
When the shipment arrives, the people celebrate
When the shipment containers covered in images of beautiful Safari animals arrive at the Houston International Airport, Friday, Nov. 4, this historical moment will bring with it a restored connection between Africa and all of America. The arrival of TanzaNutz will be celebrated Nov. 4-6 at the first TanzaFest, a free festival in New Orleans Congo Square.
Changing the Narrative: 12 authors, 16 titles bring the largest Black American group to Sharjah, UAE
Viewed as a cultural and literary hub of the region, the Sharjah International Book Fair is known as the “gateway to audiences who love the written word.” With the exceptional guidance of agents from T. Jones Media, twelve American authors have been ushered into this gateway. SIBF is an annual 11-day international book fair held … Continue reading
Expanding skincare into total wellness: microbiologist Erin White takes therapeutics to sisterhood
Pensiri: A Talk with Erin White, a microbiologist who is expanding skincare into holistic wellness for women
Beyond Juneteenth: Break the chains to access capital and achieve real freedom
“Right now, Black Americans are still chained to systems of financial bondage. We must think beyond Juneteenth to continue to find ways to access capital, which brings real freedom,” write Clark and James, guest columnists
Gift Giving for the Culture
This pandemic’s push has birthed House of Favor–a brand that fuses faith and culture with gift-giving.
Showing the world its Blerds and -ish
There is a podcast for Black nerds that broadcasts out of Baton Rouge. It’s Blerd-ish!. It’s hilarious. That’s it. That’s the story. Well, there is more to it than that, of course, but words in an article alone could not fully capture the experience listeners and guests have when Keith Cooper and Mark Wallace take … Continue reading
Painting protests and pandemic: From canvas to masks
It’s not folk art, but Tedism. It is the unique style of art and storytelling by Ted Ellis. For nearly 30 years, Ellis’ art unfolds and celebrates the traditional values of Black culture and lifestyle. He has beautifully captured that lifestyle on large canvas and prints. In the energy of this year’s drastic lifestyle changes for … Continue reading
Baton Rouge native develops antiviral drug with potential to fight coronavirus
Baton Rouge native Darnisha Harrison, founder and CEO of Ennaid Therapeutics, is advancing the development of an antiviral drug that may potentially fight coronavirus cases, and which would be more easily administered to those afflicted by the disease. Harrison’s Georgia-based pharmaceutical company filed a patent for a therapeutic called ENU200 that could treat as much as 80 percent of … Continue reading
Training Junior Cosmetologists
Dana Hayes, a native of Port Allen, was inspired to start and create Junior Cosmetology because of her mother, Ora Lee Breax Williams, who was a hairstylist. Now, at 40-years-old, Hayes has taken that interest and passion into a classroom where she teaches young girls how to care for, protect, and have pride in their natural, healthy hair. … Continue reading
A Louisiana girl with California wine
Dawna Jones, Ph.D., remembers having an amazing childhood in Opelousas with her parents, Randolph and Priscilla Darjean, and three siblings. But one distinct memory may have unintentionally guided the 43-year-old plant pathologist into the winemaking business. “My mother dabbled in making various fruit wines when I was very young, but I do not remember assisting in the process aside … Continue reading
Kristen Downing’s art — fueled by social, political climate — will exhibit at SU
Kristen Downing uses her art in the way protesters use their voice, leaders use their influence, and nations use their power.
Minister addresses controversy around latest R&B release ‘Emoji’
We really have to unlearn what we have been trained to believe is Ministry. We’ve been taught that ministry is Worship music only…. My God is not in a box and if God is really going to reach this generation then Chance the Rapper is just as important as Tye Tribbett. Kanye West is just as anointed as Kirk Franklin.
‘Not Charity, Lord, but a Chance’
The poem, “Not Charity, Lord, But a Chance,” is a petition for fair opportunities in America. Its message is timely and symbolic for this middle-schooler whose business has won two pitch competition within three months. “Blacks demanded a fair chance and were brilliant and excellent in what they did,” she said.
Fashions’ ‘Next Big’ designers hail from Baton Rouge
When it comes to fashion destinations Baton Rouge is city that could be at the bottom of the list, but Christopher John Rogers and Oonarissa Brown-Bernard are changing that. Besides dominating the charts this year? What do Cardi B and Sza have in common? They turn to Rogers for his 80’s glamour meets punk rock … Continue reading
Black Out Loud Conference celebrates Black visibility Aug 10-12
Local poet, activist and teaching artist Donney Rose will host the inaugural Black Out Loud Conference – a three-day event designed to celebrate Black visibility in the realm of the arts, media and activism – Aug. 10-12 in Baton Rouge, sponsored by the Urban Congress on African American Males in Baton Rouge, Design Baton Rouge, … Continue reading
Using faith-based training, Team Family resolves conflicts, creates peaceful, productive environment
Genia Coleman-Lee and Sandra Dee Olison met while serving in ministry together. Their love for people and professional backgrounds led them to want to improve the way people function in the workplace, with family, and in church. That desire birthed their company, Team Family, which provides faith-based training and professional development. Their goal is to … Continue reading
Baton Rouge gains its sixth community pharmacist
“My brother and I are here to build and strengthen our hometown community of Baton Rouge. We are here to provide HOPE to the community where we were born and raised,” said Orlando J. Palmer Jr., pharmacist.
Baton Rouge Councilman’s use of slur is an attempt to intimidate, bully
” ‘Gang-bangers’ and the more common ‘thug’ are racist pejoratives for Black men, part of an attempt to deem them unworthy of Constitutional protections, human decency, or justice,” writes Christopher Tyson, LSU law professor, “As a spokesperson for the Union of Police, (Metro Councilman John Delgado’s) actions carry the imprimatur of law enforcement. Therefore they can only be read as a cheap attempt to intimidate and bully.”
Ponchatoula native brings ‘Something Miraculous’ to Baton Rouge stage, March 26
It was a matter of fate that Lady Toussaint Duchess ended up bringing her highly-anticipated stage play to Baton Rouge. She had recently returned to visit her family after an extended stay in Africa for seven months and was watching the news the night Baton Rouge elected its first black female mayor, Sharon Weston Broome. … Continue reading
Monroe native rolls into world of ultra luxury
Hailed from Monroe, Louisiana, the world’s first Black American Rolls Royce car dealer got there through hard work and perseverance, but only after disappointing his family. Thomas Moorehead’s parents thought the key to respectability was a Ph.D. Both teachers, they lived by an old-school axiom that the one thing you never can take away from … Continue reading
Developers sought to reinvent Entergy site, acres in Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority is seeking developers to reinvent the former Entergy buildings and surrounding six acres at 1509 Government Street. The RDA issued a Request for Expressions of Interest asking developers to offer innovative ideas for returning the buildings to commerce. The RFEI asks developers, business owners and others for conceptual plans. … Continue reading
Monte Farms of Winnfield breeds success
Winnfield, Louisiana isn’t the biggest or most well known city in the state, but that doesn’t mean it can’t produce greatness. In 2014, Winnfield native Le’Montio Hobdy opened Monte Farms, a heritage breed, pasture-raised pork and pastured poultry farm. After consulting with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana–Monroe, Hobdy found … Continue reading
Webb, Knight lay out ‘Must Reads’
Guiding book lovers through a plethora of new releases, debuts, and blitz is a favorite task of many book store managers and bloggers, especially at the start of a new year. Mississippi radio host and avid book reviewer Cyrus Webb of Conversations Live! released 10 Books You Need to Read in 2016 and included seasoned … Continue reading
Black Dollars, Black Power: Call to boycott Black Friday and Christmas shopping spreads nationwide
Nationwide protests in the defense of Black Lives have taken a precise turn into the world of economics by encouraging Blacks everywhere to only support Black-owned businesses throughout the Thanksgiving Holiday leading with the famed “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” and ending Jan 4, 2016. Activists are calling out the national Black community to invest … Continue reading
Stewart, other pioneers to be recognized by area journalist
During the BRAABJ luncheon, Genevieve Stewart will be honored along with fellow pioneers: John Williams, the first Black photographer at The Advocate (posthumously); Jean West, former WAFB Channel 9 anchor and the first Black anchor in Baton Rouge; and the Rev. Ivory Payne, publisher of The Baton Rouge Weekly Press newspaper
Conference invites small businesses to connect for contracts
The U.S. Small Business Administration will host the 11th Annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts conference, Thursday, April 9, at Southern University A & M College Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union; 500 Jesse N. Stone Ave, starting at 8am. This free conference provides training and assistance to the small business community including small businesses, woman-owned businesses, small … Continue reading
Stephanie Jordan Big Band to pay tribute to Lena Horne
New Orleans jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan will perform a tribute concert in honor of the legendary Lena Horne at the Baton Rouge Community College Magnolia Performing Arts Theater, 201 Community College Drive, Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6pm. “It is fitting that we honor Ms. Horne during Black History Month, in addition to being a … Continue reading
Watoto Children’s Choir of Africa brings ‘Oh What Love’ to Louisiana
The Watoto Children’s Choir traveling from Africa kicks off its five-city Louisiana tour, starting Feb. 10 in Avondale and featuring the brand new production “Oh What Love.” Through this dynamic worship experience, the members of the Watoto Children’s Choir, who were once orphans, share their journeys to redemption and demonstrate that God desires to be … Continue reading
Multicultural Children’s Book Day to spread diverse characters, stories nationally
The push from various directions to raise awareness concerning the importance of embracing diversity in children’s books continues with two bloggers, Valarie Budayr of Jump Into a Book and Mia Wenjen of Pragmatic Mom announcing that Multicultural Children’s Book Day will take place on January 27, 2015, with a full schedule of online promotions and … Continue reading
Choosing the Right Toys this Holiday
Can Help Kids Meet Developmental Milestones This holiday season, keep in mind the notion that what your children play with can have a large impact on their interests and brain development. So when it comes to a walk down the toy aisle, parents are becoming more discerning, leading smart toymakers to design toys with a … Continue reading
Ferguson deserves YOUR book
The Ferguson Public Library is collecting books to distribute to families while schools are closed as a result of the continuous protests stemming from Michael Brown’s murder. We join the library and encourage you to send books featuring diverse characters and authors. Remember, Black residents make up 67% of Ferguson. So, to us at … Continue reading
Sewell’s Grocery, others launch Mayor’s healthy corner store initiative
The Scotlandville community was re-introduced to Sewell’s Community Grocery, 469 Elmer Ave., the first of the healthy corner stores in the initiative.
Harold Hambrick Jr., co-founder of River Road African American Museum, passes at 71
DONALDSONVILLE–On the evening of Wednesday, October 8, 2014, Harold Hambrick Jr., co-founder of the River Road African American Museum, after 71 years of “traversing the hills and valleys of life.” Hambrick was born on Wednesday, February 17, 1943, in New Orleans. In the Akan culture of West Africa, it is said, “Wednesday’s child is fully … Continue reading
Baton Rouge native confirmed as first person cured of sickle cell
George’s transplant – with marrow supplied by her younger brother Shongo – was done in 1983 in Birmingham at The University of Alabama Medical Center. She was then transported back to St Jude for one year.
“The outcome of my transplant was miraculous,” George said.
Moral Mondays, One Voice, Dream Defenders to speak Sept 24 in New Orleans
Conference brings together grassroots leaders to discuss innovative solutions for wealth gap NEW ORLEANS–“‘We’ is the most important word in the social justice vocabulary. The issue is not what we can’t do, but what we can do when we stand together,” said the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. Barber, who started the national Moral … Continue reading
How Did Victor White III Die? Autopsy Results Contradict Cops Account
An autopsy for Victor White III, 22, the Louisiana man who police said shot and killed himself in March while handcuffed in the backseat of a sheriff’s car, was really shot in the chest, according to the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Carol Powell-Lexing, attorney for the family of Victor White and Louisiana activist, Arthur Reed, spoke to Roland Martin Monday on “NewsOne Now” … Continue reading
Grambling State grad creates band to guard germs
It all started with a mother’s outrage at her child contracting strepthroat while playing sports, then a light bulb went off in Nicole Reeder’s head. Reeder, whose son took sick after drinking behind another player, created ID Me Bands, the first functional bottles marker for athletic environments. As bands, these markers help athletes uniquely identify their bottles and … Continue reading
Castille named SUAF president
The Southern University Alumni Federation (SUAF) elected Opelousas native Preston J. Castille Jr. national president, and six new officers, at its national conference in Houston, Texas, July 11, 2014.
State auditor finds OFI fails to oversee Louisiana payday loan companies
The state auditor said OFI did not impose any penalties on payday lenders for violating state law between Jan. 1 2010 and June 30, 2013, despite citing 8,315 violations, including almost 8,100 for major violations.
Louisiana NAACP sends call to action: ‘Baton Rouge, Show up Thursday, July 17’
While the Baton Rouge parent group One Community One School District is encouraging residents to attend a discussion on the harmful effects of School Board Redistricting at 6:30 tonight in the Goodwood Library’s large conference room, the state’s NAACP has a CALL TO ACTION for the community to show up tomorrow at 4:15pm at the school board … Continue reading
McClinton replaces Llorens as SUBR chancellor
Southern University System Board of Supervisors appointed Flandus McClinton Jr., acting chancellor for Southern University Baton Rouge. McClinton will lead the main campus of the five-campus SU System until a permanent chancellor is hired to fill the position. He replaces James Llorens whose contract ends today.
June 22 rally set, police depts urged to do more against domestic violence
In the wake of yet another domestic homicide in less than six months in the Denham Springs area, The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) announced today that it would join with several groups to hold a public rally and call to action at the Denham Springs Police Department this Sunday, June 22, at 2pm, … Continue reading
Local charter to open in Baker
BAKER—Impact Charter Elementary, a locally operated, charter school has broken ground to begin construction at 4815 Lavey Lane in Baker. Officials said the free public school will open its doors to students this fall. “We found Baker had the biggest need for the type of program we will have and that is what made [it] … Continue reading
Chicken Shack opens third location June 13
Since the time Baton Rouge businessman Thomas Delpit founded Chicken Shack in 1935—with less than a dollar in his pocket and only a third grade education—the restaurant has remained a fixture in Baton Rouge dining for 77 years. Many trials and tribulations have long setback the opening of new Delpit Enterprises restaurants and the company … Continue reading
Baton Rouge mother speaks up to #BringBackOurGirls
Bring back our girls. Bring back daughters. Bring back what was stolen and taken to be used unapologetically in a way that no girl or woman should ever have to experience. How do you go on living your day-to-day lives knowing the hard truth about our daughters, nieces, granddaughters, and cousins? Our girls have been … Continue reading
Bishop wins House Appropriations seat
State Representative Wesley Bishop (D-New Orleans) has won election to the House Appropriations Committee to represent the 2nd Congressional District. Bishop, who serves as First Vice Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, takes the seat vacated by former Rep. Jared Brossett (D-New Orleans), who resigned his seat in the House following his election … Continue reading
Acclaimed director, producer Spike Lee speaks at Boys & Girls Club event
NATCHITOCHES—When Barry LaCaze bid a whopping $1,000 for a Spike Lee book at the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Camino Reál’s 16th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner, he didn’t even flinch or show hesitation. “I just really wanted the book and knew it was for a good cause,” said LaCaze, 28, a sound technician … Continue reading
Would you do this for your sister-in-law?
March 13 was World Kidney Day – ironically, it is also the day that Baton Rouge native Shawanga Hall is traveling home from Los Angeles after becoming a kidney donor to her sister-in-law, Keisha Hall. Shawanga and Keisha traveled to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in February, and on March 4, the transplant had been completed. Keisha … Continue reading
Jozef Syndicate 