126 Search results for "authentic"

by Chelsea Neason In 1964, Malcolm X made history with “The Ballot or the Bullet”. With this speech, he proclaimed a bone-shaking truth: Black people born in America are not Americans. In Detroit, MI during one of the most impactful decades of visible Black resistance in the United States, Malcolm declared: “We are Africans, and […]

I’m wondering what words there are in existence that could be used to accurately describe Black Panther. Stunning, breathtaking, and majestic come close. This film stands firmly in a class all its own. It is not perfect (and I have many feelings about it, but you won’t find any spoilers here), but it is still […]

*A note from our Deputy Editor: The themes at Black Youth Project during the month of February are Black Joy and Black Love. It is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. We are interested in publishing works that address these topics, the connections thereof, and the things surrounding them* By Law Ware Marvel’s Black Panther […]

By Jae Nichelle There has been a language division among Black Americans for decades: African American Vernacular English (AAVE) vs. Standard American English (SAE). AAVE is a dialect used by Black people in social settings that pervades hip-hop culture, while SAE is the dialect generally taught in schools. Most people across racial lines do not […]

This essay contains spoilers for Get Out and Black Mirror S4, E6, “Black Museum” Can we just agree that Get Out is obviously a lost episode of Black Mirror? More specifically, it’s a companion tale to season four’s “Black Museum” (which feels very much like a series finale) that somehow found its way into Jordan […]

By Ari Colston-Johnson To many, the Black Church calls to mind horror stories of cisheteropatriarchy and theologies shaped by colonialism, white supremacy, and respectability politics. But coming of age in the Gullah-Geechee African Methodist Episcopal (AME) tradition, the Black Church was a foundation for my radical politics, a space for community and Afrocentric syncretism, and […]

by Ashley Nkadi Social media has long been thought of as a utopia for progressive thought. These platforms, generally founded and operated by “liberals,” often showcase voices of academia, journalism, and individuals that advocate for change, equality, and social justice. At its best, social media creates important dialogue, provides important information, offers free access to […]

Black Panther doesn’t hit the theaters until February 18th, 2018, but that isn’t stopping us from being excited and reviving #BlackPanthersolit every other day on Twitter. An important piece of Wakanda is the culture and the costumes that truly are the lifeblood of the country, just as T’Challa is the face. Enter Ruth E. Carter […]

by Hess Stinson Unpacking respectability politics is a journey. Right now, I’m at a point in my journey where I can sit on the bench and catch a breather, but I know that soon I have to get up and keep on walking. I used to take most steps with my “best foot,” trying to […]

“Fighting the system is a very big burden to take on” – Martinez Sutton, “Another Life” The future of Chicago often seems uncertain as two factions within the city battle for power. The current mayor, Rahm Emanuel, and his supporters are continuing to push a narrative which supports the divestment from Black and Brown Chicagoans […]

“Sanctuary city Policies endanger the lively hood[sic] of every american [sic], while violating federal law and destroying the black community.” At least, that’s what a blatantly racist – and poorly written – flyer found on Chicago’s South Side would like for you to believe. 

Dr. Willie Parker has been a devout Christian for his entire life. He would even walk from door-to-door and spread the word when he was only a teenager growing up in the Deep South. He later became a doctor specializing in obstetrics after attending Berea College, Harvard and the University of Iowa. For the first half […]