If I could speak to him directly, I would say “Frank Ocean you have become revolutionary.” Every person that breaks normative ideas of sexuality and gender becomes a revolutionist. These paradigm shifters become life changing for every little boy that grew up wanting to put on a ballerina dress but couldn’t because of the fear […]
R&B singer and Odd Future member Frank Ocean came out of the closet yesterday, writing a poetic blog in which he admitted that his first love was a man. Ocean’s admission is relatively unheard of in mainstream Hip Hop. His bravery is truly inspiring.
How Can I Celebrate Independence Day in Good Faith? Every year, I find myself questioning the merits of celebrating the 4th of July as a young Black woman in America. In my more, critical/cynical days it was a mockery. How dare we burn fireworks and have barbecues in celebration of a day that was never […]
I’m officially some sort of pop culture martyr. The BET Awards were last night. And instead of going my usual Sunday evening television watching route, I dissed the Gorga/Giudice feud for Sam Jackson and n’em. For those of you who missed it, forgot, or thought better of it, I noted the important moments and provided […]
Every week, the Black Youth Project collects the top news stories about black youth from across the country. Click here to check out our archive of weekly news round-ups, and check back every Monday for a new roundup of headlines about young black America.
Kenyan model Ajuma Nasenyana has spoken out against the practice of skin lightening and the damaging effects of a European standard of beauty. Why don’t more high profile people like Ajuma Nasenyana speak out on this issue?
Today is National HIV Testing Day, and the CDC is encouraging those between the ages of 13 – 64 to get tested. African Americans are the demographic most affected by HIV. Knowing your status is crucial to your health and others. Now is as perfect a time as any.
Mollie Judith Olgin, age 19, and Mary Christine Chapa, age 18, were both shot in the head last weekend. While say they do not know if the young couple’s sexuality motivated the crime. Still, a senseless tragedy.
According to a new report, Black Youth engage in participatory politics online at rates equal to or slightly higher than white, Latino, and Asian-American Youth. Check out the report – Participatory Politics: New Media and Youth Political Action – at BlackYouthProject.com!
Today a historic Supreme Court ruling banned mandatory life sentences for children convicted of homicide. The ruling affirms that young offenders should be given “a meaningful opportunity to show they have rehabilitated themselves and are appropriate candidates for release.”
21 year-old Johnathan Wall was assaulted and denied entry into a sports bar in Raleigh, North Carolina because of his race. So he wrote a kickass blog about the incident, and it’s getting loads of attention and support. A movement is brewing to shut this racist bar down.
