Culture
Reaping Our Reparations? A Recap of “The Cost of Inheritance” Screening
On the eve of the Army’s 250th birthday—right here in the birthplace of American democracy…Freedom rang a different kind of tune in Philadelphia.
Elijah Crawford Is Making Films That Don’t Care If You “Get It”—And That’s Exactly the Point
Philadelphia doesn’t need more perfect films. It needs real ones—and that’s exactly what Elijah Crawford is making.
Rasheed Ajamu Is Rewriting the Narrative of Germantown—One Post, One Story, One Neighbor at a Time
If you want to understand what’s happening in Germantown—not just what’s being built or debated, but what’s being remembered, grieved, celebrated, and imagined—you talk to Rasheed Ajamu.
All Is Fair In Love and Sin
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners features female-led performances exploring Black women’s sexuality, inviting audiences to rethink love, desire, and societal judgment.
A Taste of Philadelphia At The Roots Picnic With the Band Snacktime
As we entered into the second sun-soaked day during the 17th Annual Roots Picnic festival, a familiar brass blast echoed across The Mann’s Presser Stage. But, it wasn’t just any band warming up the crowd for soundcheck—it was Snacktime, Philadelphia’s own R&B-funk collective
Vernon Jordan III Is Reimagining Black Queer Cinema Through Love, Ghosts, and Lyricism
Vernon Jordan III—who also goes by Moonflower—doesn’t just make films. They build portals.
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.
Robert Carter Is Centering Black Possibility—One Image at a Time
When Robert Carter picks up a camera, it’s not just to document—it’s to imagine. To expand. To conjure Black possibility into something tangible.
Rachael Moton Is Crafting the Future of Dark Comedy — And She’s Doing It Her Way
In an indie film landscape where resources are scarce and the path forward is rarely linear, Rachael Moton is forging her own way — and she’s doing it with gut-punch honesty, bold humor, and a sharp lens on the systems we’re all tangled in.
Matthew Law’s Soundtrack of Togetherness: The Revival of Friends and Family
Philadelphia has always been a city of deep musical roots, and Matthew Law is one of its torchbearers, blending the old with the new, the underground with the celebrated.
Creative Opportunities May
Philly creatives! Here is another roundup of opportunities to tap into.
Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner: The Parallels Between The Sinners Juke Joint And Black Ballroom Culture
Ryan Coogler’s 5th official feature film, Sinners, has hit the theatre and stolen the hearts and attention of fans and not so frequent movie goers alike.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Steiner: Redefining the Harp for the Modern Era
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Steiner is not your traditional harpist. With a career that seamlessly bridges classical, contemporary, and pop music, she has become one of the most sought-after musicians in her field.
Joseph Earl Thomas: Writing with Blood, Nerve, and Unbearable Beauty
Few writers capture the raw essence of coming-of-age with as much intensity and lyricism as Joseph Earl Thomas.
Black Composers, Black Principal Musicians, Black Excellence
It's not every day that people can experience a concert of just principal musicians. It is even rarer to have Black men as principal musicians.