Community
Brick by Brick: How the Christian Street YMCA Built the Black Community
The legacy of the first Black YMCA in Philadelphia lives in every brick, every wooden beam, every glass pane. Its history spans more than 135 years as a beacon of hope and community for generations of Black Philadelphians.
METOO Comes to Philly To Tackle The Adultification of Black Girls
MeToo tackles the adultification of Black girls, unveiling a new public service ad at Philly’s Barnes Foundation during “What Do We Owe Black Children?”
The Black Fatherhood Flex
I am the father of a sassy and opinionated 4-year-old girl and just welcomed my son into the world only a few days ago. I would say I am an accomplished man. I’ve done many things. I have traveled to many places. But the most rewarding responsibility would by far be becoming a father.
Antonio Wooten, Jr. Refuses To Lose Recipes
Antonio Wooten refuses to lose our recipes. Wooten chooses boldly to hold the culture close by amplifying our multi-dimensional heritages through food during a time when Black culture faces erasure, upticks in hatred, and attacks on our history.
Four Ways Philly is Connected to Harriet Tubman’s Legacy
There has been a lot of “talk” around Harriet Tubman lately. After several videos went viral doubting not only the work of Harriet Tubman, who rescued hundreds of people from human trafficking known as enslavement , but also the very existence of Tubman, herself. Yes, for real.
Odunde 50
This year is the 50th celebration of the Odunde Festival, the longest running African American cultural event in the city of Philadelphia.
Dear Black Man, Get In Community
I honestly have no idea where I would be without my bros. Though I now have productive and rewarding brotherhoods and connections with other Black men, it hasn’t always been that way.
Accountability Is NOT An Attack. Protection is NOT Pandering.
Everyone should agree that our community should be safe, that the people within our community deserve “safety” in every sense of the word. It’s something we want for our families, our friends, for our elders, for our children, for ourselves.
6 Black-Owned Shops To Get Your Roots Picnic Fit
Roots Picnic is mere days away and you can already feel the excitement throughout the city. Right now, folks are getting their plans together and that includes a good fit. While Roots is well known for great music, the music festival is also known for its unique fashion.
Your Vote, Your Voice: Final Info for the 2025 Primary Election
As we have seen, over and over again in so many different ways over the past few months, who you elect has direct consequences, both bad and good, on our everyday lives.
The Bones Cry Out: 40 Years After The MOVE Bombing, Victims and Their Families Deserve Justice
I was 3 months old when Philadelphia Police dropped a bomb from a helicopter on the residential neighborhood of Cobbs Creek. May 13th, 1985 at 5:27pm
Forty Years Since the MOVE Bombing, What Have We Learned?
How long does it take to heal from the trauma of someone burning down an entire city block? Forty years, perhaps?
Black Motherhood Is a Form of Survival, Resistance, and Joy
Black Maternal Health Week comes every year in April, and this year was no different.
This Mother’s Day, Black Women Need To Talk About Motherhood and Anxiety
Becoming a mother is a transformative experience that brings immense joy, but it can also highlight underlying anxieties.
SEPTA Isn’t Failing Because of Fare Evasion. It’s Failing Because We Are
The trains still come, mostly. But fewer riders are on them. SEPTA, the public transit agency that carries Philadelphia’s working class, students, and seniors, is heading toward a fiscal cliff.