After Nearly 150 Years, HBCU Prairie View A&M Allows

22 Nov

Photo credit: Rena O. Productions In 1968, the nation’s first African American studies major was developed at San Francisco State University after an uproarious outcry from students and school. 54 years later, historically Black university Prairie View A&M University is following suit. In a news release, it was announced that the 146-year-old institution will offer students the choice to major or minor in African American studies starting this fall. “An element of the HBCU experience for a lot of students is a journey to self-identification, Blackness, and trying to know the Black experience higher,” said Director and Associate Professor of AAS Jeanelle Hope, Ph.D in a news release. “It [African American Studies] provides students with the language to know the world...

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17 Nov

Bridal Bliss: Leah And Rodney Said ‘I Do’ With

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Bridal Bliss: Leah And Rodney Said ‘I Do’ With

Amanda Evans Photography Of all of the places Leah and Rodney could have first encountered each other, it just so happened to be Kenya. Sure beats your local bar or networking event, right? It was July 2018, and on the time, Leah, a Wisconsin native born to Nigerian and Panamanian parents, was living and dealing in Nairobi. Rodney, though born in Kenya to Sierra Leonean parents, was just visiting while based out of Lusaka, Zambia. As exotic as all that will sound, despite the dreamy locale, they really didn’t encounter each other in person while, say, perusing a neighborhood market or hanging out at a well-liked attraction. Their love story actually began on a dating app within the East African country....

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4 Nov

This African Braiding Technique Was Created By Our Ancestors

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This African Braiding Technique Was Created By Our Ancestors

Braids – our common go-to protective style – represent our heritage and the survival of our ancestors. Obsessed with all things beauty? Click here to get your tickets for the first-ever ESSENCE Beauty Carnival tour! In a recent video post, Instagram user @knowyourcaribbean sheds light on a little-known braiding technique that adds to the narrative of why we opt to wear our braids and wear them proudly. View this post on Instagram Many African women braided rice or seeds into their hair before journeying the Middle Passage, on their approach to enslavement or braided it into their children’s hair before separation, in order that they...

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12 Oct

High Schools Are Now Offering AP African American Studies.

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High Schools Are Now Offering AP African American Studies.

Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Every February, a Black person is heard somewhere saying “we actually only get one month, THE SHORTEST MONTH, to show Black history??” February was chosen for a reason by the founding father of Black history week, Carter G. Woodson. The late historian is perhaps pleased that some high schools across the country have officially begun to show AP African American Studies for the primary time…and it’s for a couple of month. The College Board, the organization behind America’s Advanced Placement (AP) courses, launched a pilot program for 60 high schools to show AP African American Studies. Amid right wingers using Black history as a political football to win over (i.e. scare) their voters into supporting...

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