Beauty trends can vary widely over time and across cultures. People may experiment with different beauty trends for self-expression, cultural reasons, or to follow the latest fashion. However, it’s essential to remember that beauty is subjective, and trends can change rapidly. Here are some beauty trends that have been popular in various contexts:

Natural Beauty Embrace:

Embracing one’s natural features, including natural hair textures, skin tones, and body shapes, has become a positive and empowering trend in recent years.

Bold Makeup Looks:

Bright and bold makeup trends, such as vibrant eyeshadows, graphic eyeliners, and unconventional lip colors, can be a way to express creativity and make a statement.

Sustainable Beauty:

A growing trend involves eco-friendly and sustainable beauty practices, including cruelty-free products, recyclable packaging, and a focus on clean and green beauty.

Body Positivity:

This trend promotes acceptance and celebration of diverse body shapes and sizes, challenging traditional beauty standards.

Inclusive Beauty:

An increasing emphasis on inclusivity has led to more diverse representation in beauty campaigns, with a focus on various skin tones, ethnicities, genders, and abilities.

Glowy Skin:

Achieving a radiant and healthy complexion has been a popular beauty trend, often associated with dewy makeup looks and skincare routines that prioritize hydration and luminosity.

Hairstyle Trends:

Hairstyle trends can vary from short pixie cuts to long mermaid waves, and from vibrant hair colors to embracing natural grays.

Tattoos and Body Art:

Personal expression through tattoos, piercings, and other forms of body art has become a significant trend, allowing individuals to showcase their unique style.

It’s crucial to note that beauty trends should be approached with an understanding that everyone’s preferences and choices are different. The most important aspect of any beauty trend is that it aligns with an individual’s personal style and makes them feel comfortable and confident.

Top 10 Great Gifts for Musicians

Buying gifts for someone can be quite a challenge: you don’t know how they’ll respond to the gift and you never know how much you should spend on it. But finding a gift for a musician can be even worse. It’s no secret that artsy types are nick-picky and pretty particular about the items they keep. 

This is why today we’ll be bringing to you a list of the best items you can buy for your musical friends, family members, and significant others to better guide you on how to choose a gift that they’ll adore and one that won’t hurt your wallet:

Go Digital

If you’re shopping for a millennial, chances are that their work is within the digital landscape. A USB MIDI Keyboard Controller will help to streamline their work, by hooking up to MPC Beats Software for easy beat-making. It comes with a wide assortment of items that the pros use — a synthesizer, key-based beat making, and a mini piano — with a surprisingly affordable price tag of only $59.00.

A Musician’s Life Can Be Chaotic, so Prevent Any Damage Where You Can

Drummer’s rugs — strips of fabric that keep drum kits in place and prevent floor damage — are a go-to gift for all percussionists. It may not have the flair of the aforementioned MIDI Keyboard Controller and may seem a bit too practical, but drummers will always appreciate a new drum rug that keeps their most beloved items in order. On average, these rugs go for around $75 and remain in good condition for extensive periods.

Expand Their Knowledge

With his long career as the joint frontman of the band, The Roots, Questlove has enjoyed much of his time keeping up-to-date on musical history, particularly the history of Black musicians. He’s gathered over 200,000 records and has a musical memory spanning as far back as the year he was born, 1971, with Tony Williams’ “There Comes A Time“.

Thus, his love for musical history organically turned into Music Is History, a project that combines his musical expertise with a history that analyzes America over the past 50 years through its music.

Keep Their Hearing in Good Health

Metal and grunge fans alike know how detrimental it is to continuously attend metal concerts without protecting their ears. Listening to this type of music without earplugs can cause hearing loss and later lead to permanent deafness, so while this is another not-so-glamorous gift, it is one that will come in handy for all music lovers. We recommend high-quality ear-plugs geared towards avid concert goers, so they can avoid the pain of tinnitus, but also enjoy the sounds of their fave bands and artists.

Keep it Simple and Sweet

A seemingly obvious; yet, overlooked gift for musicians is a concert gift card. Remember less is more, so when you’re deciding between getting some new musical gadget for your singer song-writer beau or a simple gift card, get the gift card, trust me. This will show that you know them enough to get them something they’ll definitely enjoy and also show that you care for them enough to allow them to choose the specific tunes that they’ll love.

Let Them Bring a Concert Anywhere They Go

If you’re shopping for a producer or DJ,  let them bring their craft anywhere with a Pocket DJ Mixer. It’s compact and doesn’t require a power source, so there won’t be any future headaches about finding and buying an expensive charger. Using three auxiliary audio ports, this machine lets you mix two songs and listen to and amplify audio.

Give Them Inspiration

Any beginner or even veteran musician can benefit from returning to the drawing board and getting a refresher on the basics. And with Master Class‘ expansive catalog of classes—songwriting, singing, music production, violin, guitar, drumming–taught by the best and brightest of the industry (think Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, and many, many others), beginner musicians will have a great foundation to start their musical career and veteran musicians will be inspired and have an arsenal of new, innovative ideas to help them expand their repertoire. 

Revamp Their Closet

Ok, I know… I know. All musicians, whether they’re the lead singer, guitarist, percussionist, or even the producer have some sort of band tee. But more than likely those tees are tattered beyond repair or have some sort of questionable stain on them, so a musician​​ can always benefit from a new or even vintage band t-shirt. 

Plus, it’s not hard to find them, check out Good Will, Urban Outfitters, Target, or Wal-Mart, and you’ll find t-shirts featuring, NAS, The Notorious B.I.G., and of course, the Queen, Beyonce.  

 Provide Them With A Personalized Message from Their Fave Artists

This one seems like it would break the budget, but surprisingly it doesn’t. With hundreds of artists to choose from, the Cameo app allows you to gift to others personalized messages spoken from such artists as ICE  T. and Snoop Dogg for only $50. And if you really want to give a musician something to remember, you may be able to even gift them with one-on-one chats and Zoom calls from select artists that provide this option to in-app users.

Bring Them Back To The Place That Started It All

 If all else fails, bringing them back to the place that inspired them to be who they are today not only shows how thoughtful you are but how much you care for them as a person. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with a concert….Well, just make sure it’s in their genre of choice.

Top 10 New Jobs Pursued By Black Entrepreneurs

In media, today, black people are often showcased as athletes, actors, and singers. You open a magazine and the first black person you see is Kanye West talking about his newest album and you check out your Instagram feed and hear Zendaya answering questions about her newest role in another Marvel flick. However, black people are more than the monolithic roles that society checks them off as. Rather, they are also keeping stock of their capital in the stock market and pivoting their brands to fit exactly what their followers want. Simply, many individuals within this community are highly skilled business moguls and entrepreneurs blazing a trail for others in their fields.

Therefore, below is a compilation of the many entrepreneurial roles frequently pursued by black people:

1. Brand Ambassador

With the advent of social media, brand ambassadors are needed more than ever to sell and display products of a brand positively. You’ve probably seen a brand ambassador at least five times a day, depending on how often you’re online, praising the positive effects of this or that diet tea or giving you a full look at themselves wearing a product in real-time to show you how inclusive a clothing line is. In this line of work, the word of a brand ambassador is golden. 

2. Makeup Mogul

The great resignation has been in full throttle for the past two years, and it thankfully doesn’t seem close to stopping. Many black people, especially women, did a fast track of their passions and knowledge base and discovered that they were well-versed in makeup. Growing up wearing lipsticks and eyeliner and hearing the most raving and critical of reviews for certain products made them well aware of what people wanted to wear and what people wanted to look like, so all it took was strategy, determination, and capital to get their makeup lines running. 

3. Social Media Manager

In the age of the internet, the determinants of your success online (e.g. follower count, number of likes, etc.) are equal or similar to those for your life offline. Thus, your brand is your capital. Those who take care of branding for a variety of individuals are social media managers; they wear multiple hats, including creating content, analyzing social media metrics, devising social media strategies, and more. A social media manager is all-in-all a jack of all trades.

4. Skincare Designer

Healthcare has not been a safe space for many black people, particularly in the case of misdiagnosed dermatological conditions that occur as an effect of how medical students are often (if not, always) taught to diagnose on white skin. Therefore, black skincare professionals have taken it upon themselves to develop safe remedies for conditions that often plague black skin, such as eczema, vitiligo, hyperpigmentation, and ingrown hair.

5. Youtuber

You can’t be a Youtuber without a winning personality, which is why many black people pursue roles as influencers and content creators on Youtube and succeed at doing so. We’re funny, empathetic, kind, and when asked, we give advice that you may not want to hear but need in the long run.

6. Clothing Designer

Those who have experienced a continuous onset of pain or prejudice in their lives often turn to art to sublimate their pain, which is the case for many black individuals. The process of creating articles of clothing is often said to be a meditative experience for the ways in which it reveals an individual’s skillset and returns them to their roots. For instance, witnessing one’s idea of a dashiki dress being brought into reality, stitch by stitch, can be gratifying for African American, Liberian, and other African textile designers.

7. Investor in Restaurant/Food Business

We, as black people, do not know everything, but one thing we do know is how to season food well and choose the right kinds of food to eat. Therefore, many in the community have taken roles as investors of various barbecue, soul food, and seafood restaurants, as well as brands of alcohol, including Sean Comb’s investment in Cîroc Vodka. 

8. Innovator

If you’ve heard of the George Foreman grill, then you probably know what an innovator is. This grill and George Foreman, himself, epitomized black excellence before there was such thing as #blackexcellence. He was aware of a need that the people had and resolved that need before anyone else could think of doing so. Quite simply, with Foreman as an example, an innovator leads the race before anyone gets to the starting line. They have the ideas, the skills, and the determination to bring their thoughts into reality, despite any adversity. 

9. Stock Market Investor

Okay, I don’t like math. Nobody I know likes math, but black people, like all people, like money, so we get the math done. Legends like Robert F. Smith of the Vista Equity Partners, which invests in technology and software companies that endeavor to improve economic justice, and John W. Rogers, Jr., the founder and Chairman, Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments, have dedicated their lives to making strategic investments to not only support themselves but to support others in the community who come from modest circumstances. 

10. Indie Writer

For too long, black people’s voices have been regulated and edited by the larger public; however, with the growing trend of self-publishing, many black writers have found a home for their stories. For example, popular book vlogger, Mina Thomas of MinaReads, noted that upon reading Christina C. Jones’ novel Something Like Love that she “cried over my first ever experience reading about a bisexual Black woman like me…. Indie romances often provide me with representation that is often slow to show up on the traditionally published market.”

Top 10 Black Queer Celebrity Couples That Show LGBTQ Love is Flourishing

By: Princess Dominiko

Love is love. However, though this sentiment of love being pure and true to itself is prevalent today, in our recent past, queer love was demonized, especially within the black community, where toxic masculinity is predominant and where being a trans, black woman is equal to a death sentence.

Because of this prejudice, many black actors and musicians were forced to hide their sexuality and live in shame. 

Nonetheless, with the aforementioned prevailing acceptance for all love and the 2015 legalization of gay marriage, the number of black celebrities coming out and standing proud in their love has grown. Therefore, we present to you the top 10 celebrity couples that prove that queer love is thriving within the black community:

Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis

Netflix has been popping off with its ever-increasing list of gay shows. One of these shows is “Styling Hollywood,” which focuses on the lives of Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis. Jason is a celebrity stylist with a resume that includes working with A-list celebrities, like Taraji P Henson and Wiz Khalifa, while Adair is an interior designer, so you can imagine that they both serve looks in and outside their house.

And their Netflix show is revolutionary, which is great, for the way in which it highlights the life of black, gay men who aren’t often seen in media, but also bad, because, really, only now, in 2022, there’s a reality show focusing on black, gay love?

Justice Smith and Nicholas Ashe

There’s no other way to describe this couple other than being darlings. Their sweet romance began a little over a year and a half ago, when, Smith spoke out, via Instagram, about the need for black queer people to be included in the black lives matter movement, “As a Black queer man, myself, I was disappointed to see certain people to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added.”

He continued on by bringing some levity to the sad situation, by presenting his fans with an assortment of photos of him and his boyfriend showing off their #blackboyjoy. 

A few months later, Ashe went onto the same picture-taking platform as his boyfriend and published a sweet for his birthday, “Justice, you have been the author of all my recent smiles. You make me feel safe. seen. heard. inspired. admired. returning the favor has been my favorite adventure. I’ve always appreciated your authenticity, and brilliance, and passion, but you have certainly outdone yourself this year. Bravo.”

Willow Smith and Tyler Cole

Willow Smith and Tyler Cole, though a unique choice for the list, for their seemingly heterosexual relationship, are proudly queer themselves and show that queerness isn’t just a matter of being gay or bi, but it can also mean the preference of a relationship outside the “norm” of society.

 It was in 2021, while dating Cole, that Smith came out as polyamorous, preferring ethical non-monogamy, a type of relationship that has partners consenting to polyamory or love outside their partnership. The two have been dating for the past five years now and collaborate on music together, including the ever-popular hit “Meet Me At Our Spot.”

Anthony Hemmingway and Steven Norfleet 

Anthony Hemmingway and Steven Norfleet are nothing but a couple of kings. The duo has spent the last 8 years together, with 4 of the last years being in marital bliss. However, before they were walking down the aisle, the couple met, funnily enough, after a church service, on Easter Sunday in 2014.

In an interview with The New York Times, Hemingway described their chance encounter in an with refreshing honesty, comparing his would-be husband, who was dressed in a bow tie and round-framed glasses at the time, to a young Malcolm X, “I was trying to be present in the conversation I was having, but I kept finding myself looking over and counting the seconds to get out of it. I had to figure out who this guy was my friend was talking to.”

The two ran into each other a few more times that year, but it wasn’t until December that Norfleet took the initiative and began flirting with Hemmingway and that flirting led to their aforementioned marriage. Thus, if you learn anything from their story, it’s that DMs can go a long way in terms of gay love. 

Tessa Thompson and Janelle Mone

Though going their separate ways in 2020, the actress and singer were a beautiful pair of sapphics, particularly in Monae’s music video, “Make Me Feel”,  that featured the pair dancing provocatively in a club.

Prior to their romance, the two came out separately in 2018, with Thompson revealing that she was bisexual, via Instagram, during June’s Pride Month “I can take things for granted because of my family—it’s so free and you can be anything that you want to be. I’m attracted to men and also to women. If I bring a woman home, a man, we don’t even have to have the discussion.”

While Monae came out in a more tight-lipped fashion, simply revealing that she’s attracted to more than one gender in an interview with Rolling Stone. 

Kehlani and 070 Shake

Songwriter and songstress, Kehlani, has identified as queer for years, but last year, in 2021, she finally felt comfortable enough to come out as a lesbian. Since then, she has often been seen in a number of intimate positions with the rapper, 070 Shake. 

Young M.A and Kaylah Gooden

Despite the years of constantly being called a lesbian, the rapper, in 2019 interview with Jason Lee and the rest of Hollywood Unlocked, officially came out to explain her feelings on the lesbian label. When Lee brought up the topic of her identity, the rapper said, “Nah bro, I don’t like that. At first, I thought it was like — cause everybody said it but now I’m like – I’m just Young M.A, man.” Her choice of words proved that while labels can be helpful for some, they are not helpful for all.

Today, M.A and digital creator and model, Kaylah Gooden, are together and proudly show off their love on their respective social media accounts.

Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts

Like Willow and Tyler Cole, Niecy Nash is a bit of an outlier amongst younger individuals in the community, since the tv host has only just came out as liking both men and women, after decades of dating men. She was in the midst of her divorce with her then-husband, Jay Tucker, when she realized that her feelings ran deeper for her friend, Jessica Betts.

In an interview with People, she said that “I loved her before I was in love with her because she is such a special human being. But we began to see each other in a way we never had before. Sometimes you get so broken by love, you run from it. But I’ve learned that you should always hold space for magic because it can happen at any time.”  Nash’s story, though somewhat unique, exemplifies the importance to live in your truth no matter what sacrifices you may have to make.

Antonio Douthit-Boyd and Kirven Douthit-Boyd 

These two gifted dancers, Antonio Douthit-Boyd and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, aptly met, while working at the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and they later tied the knot in 2013. Their love shows that sometimes you can mix business with pleasure.  

Mj Rodriguez and Stephen

MJ Rodriguez needs to be on this list for a number of reasons, one of which is to demonstrate that despite the growing trend of black, trans women being killed, not all women of this sort are a statistic. While, at the same time, she deserves to be recognized simply for the true, unyielding love she and her boyfriend have for each other.

In a Valentine’s Day Instagram post, the actress declared, “I feel like I can be my truest self when I am around you. You have shown me what love truly looks like when it’s balanced and easy. I’m so proud to call you my Valentine but most importantly my boyfriend. You are always rooting me on, you always make sure my physical, my spiritual and my mental state is . I’m so appreciative of you. #happyvalentinesday I LOVE YOU Stephen.”

10 Beautiful Celebs Who Celebrate Their 4C Kinks and Curls

Natural hair care is trending more than ever amongst both black and white communities, alike. However, despite the record number of individuals showing off their natural tresses and curls, the people—individuals with 4c hair— who started this trend have seemingly become cast out of the growing online community through bullying.

Nevertheless, a record number of black celebrities with 4C hair have decided to trash their wigs and weaves to show off their kinks and curls. 

10. Jessica Williams

If you’re not familiar with the Love Life and Booksmart star now, you better get familiar with her soon, because her crown of choice is the illustrious, iconic afro.  She has sometimes been known to show off her braiding prowess, when she dresses her hair up in a protective style, but that’s rare. No judging, though, we all know what a workout it is to take care of our natural locks.  

9. Solange

Remember when Solange did her big chop in 2009 and broke the internet? Well, if you don’t, it’s your loss, cause she was the trendsetter before trendsetters were setting trends for kinky tresses. She inspired countless, previously insecure young black girls and people (including myself), to love their beauty in its natural state. And to all those insecure girls that are now confident women, we owe her the world.

8. Viola Davis 

Viola Davis’ favorite hairstyle may have been a wig back in the day, but she snatched that thing off so quick, she gave Annalise Keating a run for her money. Her hairdo nowadays is a simple, yet chic afro. And when speaking to Essence in 2013, she explained the change in her style as an effort to raise her child with the mindset that she’s beautiful as she is, “I am not going to traumatize my child about her hair. I want her to love her hair.”

7. Jill Scott

Neo-Soul siren, Jill Scott, was one of the first black celebrities to slay her all day every day, and with the increasing number of black celebrities showing off their locs and twists, she’s certainly not the last. Still, she paved the way for us to finally see the beauty of braids, and we’re forever grateful. Some of her best looks include twist-outs, fros, and locs.

6. Teyonah Parris

Have y’all seen Teyonah Parris’ noteworthy afro puffs and her gorgeous cloud of hair, cause she is serving looks. The actress deserves an A+ for her stylish efforts. Parris also got the opportunity to show off her natural hairdos on the silver screen, while playing Monica Rambeau in Marvel’s beloved show, Wanda Vision.

5. Beyonce

While her sister has taken the spotlight of being the natural hair queen, the queen of pop, Beyonce, has enjoyed showing off her natural hair as well. And show she did, because the singer proved that despite wearing wigs and weaves on almost a daily basis, she could retain length and protect her natural mane. 

4. Issa Rae

While Issa Rae’s hairstyle of choice is usually a faux-hawk, she adds her own twists to it, literally and figuratively. And with her cute look, she has all un-ironically wanting this early 2000’s hairdo. She’s also been known to dress it her stylish cut with colorful pins and free-flowing side braids.

3. Yvonne Orji

Like her Insecure co-star, Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji knows how to bring it when it comes to comedy and hair. And in the last few seasons of her popular show, she has reminded us that men aren’t the only ones who can rock a buzzcut, because her hair is always on point. At the same time, while rocking her shorter looks, she has definitely given off Black Panther Okoye vibes.

2. Letitia Wright

The Black Panther alum does not only show how she embraces her blackness in her beloved role, as the ever-so sarcastic, African princess, Shuri, but she also shows her self-love in her short, yet, chic hairdos. From afros to cornrows, the actress knows how to bring her A game on and off the screen.   

1. L. Scott Caldwell

While many of the black celebrities that are returning to their natural hair are below a certain age bracket, L. Scott Caldwell shows that wisdom really does come with age. Similar to Jill Scott, Caldwell was a pioneer of wearing natural hair before it was trending. She’s worn every natural hairstyle under the sun–including braids, twist-outs, locs, afros, and more–; yet, she still makes it look new and refreshing. 

Many, if not all readers of blacktop10s knows how uncomfortable it is to stand out, but we hope that after reading this article on all the beautiful, black women that you all will cherish your hair,  and stand in your truth of blackness.

The genres of Hip-Hop and Rap are filled with some of the world’s most talented, influential and successful lyricists. Names such as Jay-Z, Nas, Lil’ Wayne, Drake, and many others have gone on to break records and sell countless amounts of hits, making them some of the biggest names in music. Although names such as Jay-z and Lil’ Wayne sustained their success, others faded away just like the way they emerged onto the scene. Here’s a list of rappers (in no particular order) who should have been bigger if fate had it written for their futures in rap.  

Nipsey Hussle

Emerging from the West Coast Hip-Hop scene in the mid-2000s, Nipsey Hussle was one of rap music’s biggest potentials before his untimely death, in 2019. Known for his numerous mixtapes, his entrepreneurship and community activism, Hussle was an indisputable force in the West Coast rap scene. Hussle’s debut studio album, Victory Lap, was released on February 16, 2018, debuting at number 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album units in its first week. With singles including “Double Up,” “Last Time That I Checc’d,” and “Dedication,” Victory Lap was nominated for a Best Rap Album at the 61^st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019, but lost to Cardi B’s, “Invasion of Privacy.” 

On March 31, 2019, Hussle was fatally shot outside his store, Marathon Clothing, in South Los Angeles, ending what could have possibly been another figure to California’s rapper Mount Rushmore. 

Pop Smoke

Known primarily for his drill rap mastery, Pop Smoke rose to fame with the release of his breakout singles, “Welcome to the Party,” and “Dior,” in 2019. Less than two weeks after the release of his second mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2,” Smoke was murdered during a home invasion in Los Angeles. Pop Smoke’s success had put Brooklyn back at the forefront of the rap game after years of dominance from rappers like Notorious B.I.G. among others. Although one is unable to tell just how successful the rapper would have truly been before finally rising to the top, his posthumous debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. All 19 tracks included on the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The streak nonetheless cements Pop Smoke’s status as one of the top rappers of his generation before his shocking death at the tender age of 20. 

Fetty Wap 

Fetty Wap was once hip-hop’s hottest artist. His break-out hit “Trap Queen” in 2015 peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 list and he was thought to be a one-hit-wonder. “Trap Queen” which was followed by singles, “My Way” and “679” were more certified bangers and put people on notice that maybe Fetty was not here for just a short while. Ironically enough, according to the rapper, due to “bad business managers… greed and selfishness…” he hit a significant slump in his rise to stardom. 

Chamillionaire 

Dubbed “the Mixtape Messiah,” Houston’s Chamillionaire arrived as a major-label artist during Houston’s 2005 takeover of mainstream rap with the likes of rappers Mike Jones, Slim Thug and Paul Wall. Through a prolific succession of mixtapes, Chamillionaire became known for his deep, versatile voice, singing his own hooks very effectively, and of course his lyrical ability. The Mixtape Messiah is now the millionaire entrepreneur with money in more than 40 companies. As his music career began to take a downward trajectory, Chamillionaire has transitioned from a rapper to investing in tech firms and early start-ups.

Andre 3000 

One half of one of Hip-Hop’s greatest duos, Outkast, André 3000 is arguably a Top 10 rapper in some’s opinion. Lyricism, flow, and creativity, all boxes are checked. The Atlanta rep has rapidly become the music industry’s favorite disappearing act – resurfacing at the most unexpected times to remind everyone how truly talented and charismatic he is. The mellosmoothe tone of Andre’s voice resonates and leaves a lasting impression on every record. Although a critically acclaimed major success of a super group, his success as a solo artist isn’t up to par. Leaving the world with “The Love Below,” his only true solo project, he left much to the imagination of what could have truly been of Andre 3000. Telling media sources, “My focus is not there. My confidence is not there,” hope is lost to ever expect to receive that solo project from Hip-Hop’s Houdini. 

J-Kwon

St. Louis’ not so forgotten gem of the 2000s, J-Kwon, released the Billboard charting single, “Tipsy,” that made the perfect club anthem. In 2003, “Tipsy,” went on an absolute firestorm as a single, getting tons of radio play nationally, earning the St. Louis emcee a record deal from So So Def and Arista Records. With nods from Jermaine Dupri and fellow St. Louis natives, Chingy and Murphy Lee, it was unforeseen that Kwon’s next single would go on to flop and the album would be considered an underwhelming body of work. 

Young Dolph 

South Memphis rapper, Young Dolph joined the ranks of Yo Gotti, Blac Youngsta, Three Six Mafia, and 8Ball and MJG, with his stern club bangers and cold punch lines served throughout a series of mixtapes that led to a nationwide breakthrough around 2014. Thanks in part to Dolph’s audience-expanding featured role on O.T. Genasis’ double platinum single, “Cut It,” the set debuted at number 49 on the Billboard 200 chart. With Dolph’s controversial run-ins with multiple shootings including the fatal shooting that took place in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, his success and rise to fame was short-lived. 

Desiigner

Bringing the mumble style of the Atlanta trap school up the East Coast, rapper and singer/songwriter Desiigner made his big breakthrough in 2015 with the chart-topping, Grammy-nominated hit “Panda.” The club banger, “Panda,” rose all the way to the top of the charts at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Desiigner’s rapping technique and vocals have been heavily compared to that of Atlanta-based rapper, Future. Following the release of his chart-topping single, the Brooklyn based rapper released his follow up single, “Tiimmy Turner,” in 2016, debuting at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. Success seemed to have plummeted for Desiigner unable to continue his rise to fame after his release from Def Jam records and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label.

Tupac Shakur 

Coming in on the list at number nine, the late Tupac Shakur. Having sold more than 75 million records worldwide, in light of his fatal shooting death at the age of 25, Tupac could have very much been even bigger than what he was before his demise. Not only making an immaculate career as one of Hip-Hop’s greatest emcees, but Shakur’s film career set him up to possibly be among the rank’s of best rappers turned actors with the likes of LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, Will Smith, Method Man, and many others. Tupac’s legacy sustains the success of what could have been from rap’s Top Ten. 

Notorius B.I.G. 

Last on the list is none other than Brooklyn’s own, lyrical assassin, the Notorious B.I.G. Much like Tupac Shakur, Biggie’s life was ended in his mid-twenties due to a fatal car shooting, leaving many to wonder just how big, B.I.G. could have been. Known for his distinctive laidback lyrical delivery, offsetting the lyrics’ often grim content. Only releasing his debut album, ironically titled, “Ready to Die,” before his passing, it reaching number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart, it shifted attention back to East Coast hip hop at a time when West Coast Hip-Hop dominated US charts. The genius flow of similes and metaphors used to ride on the beats of hits like, “Big Poppa,” “Juicy,” “One More Chance” and many others made B.I.G. one of Hip-Hop’s best storytellers. The Notorious B.I.G. was on the verge of simply beginning his full legacy with his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A., and introducing the world to the lights of one dominant Lil’ Kim. Sadly enough, the world is just a little less bigger without the one and only, Biggie Smalls. 

The Brilliance of Dave Chappelle

Some call him the GOAT (including himself). Others label him the voice of his generation. He’s been called polarizing, divisive, transphobic, racist, and canceled. However, the appellation fans of comedy use most often are brilliant. That is a lofty and historically dangerous moniker for a stand-up comedian.

I once heard an audience member tell Eddie Griffin that he was a genius, and Griffin quickly said, “Don’t put that on me.” His reluctance for a title he might well have earned is fraught with pitfalls because once you’ve been anointed, you must continue to deliver at a level that leaves no room for quality diminishing criticism.

Talk about pressure. Being funny is hard enough, but being so all the time and more than your peers can be daunting as many an example of the crash and burn are fully documented and witnessed.

The first time I saw Dave Chappelle was at the Comedy Act Theater in Los Angeles. It was the early 90s, around the time of the untimely death of the club’s host, Robin Harris.

Fellow DC comedian David Edwards brought Dave in for a guest spot. He had yet to achieve any national recognition but was a hot commodity back East.

That night he delivered a solid but not overwhelmingly defining set. We deemed him a good comedian in a room full of good comedians. The Comedy Act Theater at the time was home to D L Hughley, Jamie Foxx, Joe Torry, TK Kirkland and Chris Tucker. 

The next time I saw Dave Chappelle, we worked together on the road, along with Ajai Sanders. The most memorable thing that struck me on that occasion was the size of Dave’s check (the promoter made a mistake and gave me Dave’s envelope). He was clocking big dollars long before his eventual notoriety, but Dave never flossed.

We did the show, then got high to the point of passing out (me). My next encounter with him was back in Hollywood at the Improv. He invited me outside to get me high and was driving a luxury vehicle most comics would’ve bragged on. When I asked Dave was it his he just smiled and passed the weed. 

I mention these personal experiences to illustrate the man behind the public persona or press. The Dave Chappelle I’ve encountered throughout the years is humble.

As a comedian, he does his job, has a good time doing it and like the late, great Prince, Dave would pop up at places after his own booked shows to get in one more set as well as entertain those in the community who might not have been able to afford his ticket price. Dave loves comedy and from there we can acknowledge what makes him brilliant.

Dave is a student of his craft. Chappelle knows his historical roots and his place in the arc known as stand-up comedy. He realizes to be effective in the lane he’s chosen requires a foundation of appreciation of the past and an understanding of here the art can go in the future.  

He has a curiosity and understanding of mankind.

Dave comes from an educated family. Scholars shaped his early development and his moral stance.

This is the reason Chappelle can incorporate relevant history into his routines as analogies or points of reference to his current topic. He has the comedic ability to look at trends and uses logic to predict the next step society might take.

The man is fearless. Chappelle knows that the worst that can happen to a comedian is a bomb. He’s had them like all comedians and survived.

With that understanding, he is able to say whatever he pleases without fear of being brought before a tribunal and put to death. He once said he speaks the language of funny fluently, and when you have that confidence in your abilities, you’re free to hold the mirror up to the masses and show them where we are VS where we’re being told we are.

Dave makes the taboo relatable. Like Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor (his obvious forefathers), Chappelle broaches themes and subject matter that most comedians avoid.

Not because they are afraid of those topics, but because it takes a certain amount of comedy dexterity to navigate them and have an audience accept it. It’s one thing to bring it up but what are you saying about it that all walks of life can see your point. To shock or not to shock is the question many ask before structuring an act of even speaking. With Dave, that consideration is mute. 

Dave has a message. Chappelle gives you his worldview and his solutions and we accept them. We don’t have to like the brutal honesty of his presentation, but we do have to see where it comes from, and he gives us the roadmap of his thoughts. He’s rarely cryptic or vague. He let’s you in on the inner workings and why his way just might work for all of us.

One of his greatest attributes is how he’s so disarming. Few public personalities possess Chappelle’s elfin quality. Even fewer comedians outside of Ellen can make you feel this is innocence discovering what we all have taken for granted and learned to live with. It’s an amazing quality for a performer to have.

Despite his age and increased size, he is still at the core, that scrawny kid who said things off-handedly and meant no harm is saying it. So why are we tripping?

Dave has shown us he has integrity. In an industry populated with soul sellers, flip-floppers, and pure definitions of wishy-washy buck chasers, Chappelle has demonstrated he is a human of principle.

This might be his most important quality. We respected Muhammad Ali and recently Martha Stewart because they took their medicine and moved forward. Ali could’ve gone to the war and Stewart could’ve avoided jail time with countless appeals, but both stood up and showed us what they were made of as people. Dave did that when he walked away from a fortune. Who Dave is was more important to him than how much he earned.

He understands his era and is well aware that we live in a PC, sensitive time, but also in a cue-required mentality. We’re told what to do, how to think, what to buy, who to like and dislike. Society has gone from right seekers to puppets for the gatekeepers to keep off balance and profit from their confusion.

Chappelle knows this and uses this unfortunate state to woo us. Ever notice how he has a habit of hitting the microphone on his leg after a punchline?

This is relatively new for him. It’s a sign to the audience to laugh. An audience trained by a lifetime of laugh tracks. An audience who might’ve never been to a live comedy show, now knows what to laugh at Dave, which for Dave has to be more comfortable than feeling they didn’t get the jokes and supply him with the proper response. This way, whether they truly got it or not – they laughed in the right place.

Dave champions causes. All good humorists are known for something, but the great ones are known for something bigger than jokes or their style. Lenny Bruce championed freedom of speech. Dick Gregory – political understanding. Ellen – gay rights. In the case of Chappelle, it is our right to be ourselves. Not a coddler or one who panders, Chappelle hits everybody between the eyes with his truth, including himself. 

I think a true touch of brilliance is when Dave anointed himself. Katt Williams called him the GOAT and so have others so, why shouldn’t he? If people hear it or read it, more often than not they believe it. Is Dave Chapelle the GOAT (Greatest of all-time)? Only time will tell.

Here is our list of black female singers and black male singers that really brought it home with these love song hits. Let us know if you agree in the comments.

Always and Forever – Heatwave

One of the most classic love songs of all time was sung by the 70s hit group Heatwave, founded by lead singer Johnnie Wilder. The group had many hits but Always and Forever remains the most memorable smash from the group.

The late writer Rod Temperton was a member of the original group when Johnnie Wilder met him while performing in clubs in the UK as a serviceman.

Wilder had an unfortunate accident at the height of the group’s career in 1979 which left him paralyzed from the neck down. He later became good friends with the late Teddy Pendergrass who also had a car accident that left him paralyzed in 1982.

The group didn’t have many hits in the 80s but Rod Temperton went on to become one of the most sought after writers in music penning smash hits for a multitude of singers but most notably Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.

Always – Atlantic Starr

From the 1987 album “All in the Name of Love.” Always is one of the best love songs ever recorded. Barbara Weathers admitted that the song was really from the heart because she allegedly had a crush on bandmate and singing partner for the single David Lewis.

The single skyrocketed to the number 2 position on the Billboard Pop and Urban charts. David Lewis, one of three brothers in the group. Nobody would recognize David today from the way he looked in this video

Oh Girl –The Chi-Lites

This song was an absolute smash for the group with Eugene Record on lead vocals in 1972. Unfortunately, it was their first and only number one hit on the pop charts.

The song is sung with painful angst and conviction and the harmonica, played by group member Marshall Thompson who is still active today, was the icing on the cake to make this one of the most unique love songs of all time. Record died in 2005

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBC5BUh3BM

Adore – Prince

I have never been a huge Prince fan. I know, what planet am I from right?  Except for two songs “When Doves Cry” and “Eye Hate U” but Adore is another undeniable love classic from start to finish. The song was recorded in 1987

Inseparable – Natalie Cole

The late Natalie Cole was at her peak during the most tumultuous period of her life, the 70s. She admitted that she had no idea how she managed to get herself off of heroin during those days but her drug binges continued while 1975’s Inseparable sprinted up the charts.

The song is eerily reminiscent of her father Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.” Perhaps it was intentional. Cole never got to see 2016 as she died on December 31, 2015. Ironically 2016 saw MANY other singers’ deaths as well including Prince. Her only son Robbie died two years later or a heart attack at age 39,

Pretty Brown Eyes – Mint Condition

Mint Condition should have been a much bigger group. There were MANY members of the group but they were in great competitive company in the 90s which, thus far, is the last era for multiple boy bands. The era was also dominated by New Edition, BBD, Guy and several other groups who dominated the charts.

At Last – Etta James

An instant standard and classic and the biggest, but not the ONLY hit for the late Etta James. While working at the now-defunct KACE in Los Angeles, we played this song often and during one of my shifts an ad agency called me and asked me who the singer was.

I told them Etta James and about a month later, the song was all over a luxury car commercial. The single was recorded in 1960 and James failed to have a sustainable singing career because she had a very difficult struggle with heroin addiction. She died in 2012

Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) – The Temptations

Eddie Kendricks didn’t sing lead on many of the Temptation ballads except one of their biggest love songs, Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me).

He did sing lead on some of their uptempo songs but Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) proved to be not only a smash in 1970 but also his swan song with the Temptations who at that point were not getting along very well. Kendricks went on to have a short-lived successful solo career. 

The song, produced by the late Norman Whitfield, sat on the shelf at Motown while the group was enjoying consistent success with their psychedelic era recordings like Cloud 9 and Ball of Confusion.

The song didn’t fit with what they were doing but when the Psychedelic faze started to trend out the single was released much to the chagrin of longtime classic Temptations fans.

Highly regarded as one of the best love songs ever recorded by several respected music industry trades and magazines Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.

If Only You Knew Patti LaBelle

Cause I Love You – Lenny Williams

If Only For One Night – Luther Vandross …

also recorded by Brenda Russell and Roberta Flack

I will readily admit that by the time Luther’s version came out, I had exhausted Brenda Russell and Roberta Flacks versions. Not afraid to admit that I actually like Flack and Russel’s version’s better than the more popular Luther’s version.

Russell, who wrote the song released it on her 1979 self-titled debut album and by Roberta Flack on her Live and More album (A truly GREAT double album in 1980 with Peabo Bryson that actually flopped?) in 1980.

Luther’s version came in 1985. Luther is one of the greatest singers in R&B history and there has yet to be a singer who even comes close this his style, range, and delivery with effortless ability to go from alto to falsetto and back 

A House is Not a Home – Luther Vandross

OK, this is a rework by the late Luther that is nothing less than amazing. The late Frankie Crocker invited him to sing it on WBLS and he agreed and did it on the radio and in this video, he does it leaving all of the women (and men) in the audience in awe of his incredible talent. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu2JBMNBbKo

Straight from the Heart – Con funk Shun

The very start of this song is so melodic and captivating that you get hooked from the beginning to see what’s next. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wJ3SA4V62A

One in a Million – Larry Graham

Larry Graham from Graham Central Station and previous to that Sly and the Family Stone is an incredible singer. It is rare that bass singers have the kind of range he has. He was very dedicated to reinventing himself and enjoyed success in the 60s thru the 80s long after Sly and the Family Stone was over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjC7x6bKvFg

Wildflower – New Birth

Can anything be said about this song besides classic?  Feel free to comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTxSFPSmOYc

The number of success stories from black entrepreneurs in regards to their businesses is constantly on the increase, a positive remark considering the world is known to have a lot of racial discrimination. If you are a black entrepreneur seeking to invest in a business and would want to be certain that you will not be going downhill in terms of your business’ success, then the following are businesses ventures that you should take into consideration:

Auto repair

It is quite challenging taking a car to the car shop for simple repairs. Because the main reason people get cars is to be able to move from one place to another, taking your car to the repair shop rends you carless for a few hours or even days. This can be stressful as you have to spend more money on top of what you are using to fix your car for car rides to places as you wait for your car to get tended to. All of that inconvenience can be done away with by the use of a mobile auto repair service. This would mean from wherever the customer has the issue, your company would dispatch off a mechanic with the necessary tools to go get the work done without the person needing to come to your location. Services such as battery swaps, oil changes, repairing of headlights, fluid refills and much more can be done from as simple as a parking lot or even a driveway. Mobile auto repair is a highly successful business that one ought to look into. Black’s auto service is an example of an auto repair shop in New Jersey that is black-owned and has been enjoying success for the past seven years since its birth.

Food trucks

The food truck industry is constantly growing. This can be attributed to the fact that the rent in major cities is constantly on the rise, therefore, making it challenging for startup food artisans to afford. The food trucks have provided the ultimate solution to that economic gap. One can start the business by simply parking your food truck at farmers’ markets, the events that are usually in cities, or any place in your city that is known to have crowds. Black entrepreneurs have an automatic advantage in this business as they are known to have the best recipes of homemade meals in their families that are passed from generation to generation. Investing in the food truck business especially in the busy cities as a black entrepreneur is a sure bet for success. Diva Dawgs in Los Angeles is an example of a black-owned food truck that is the optimum of success in the industry.

Electronics repair

To say that the whole world currently is obsessed with all sorts of electronics would be a meager understatement. People across the globe spend almost all of the waking hours glued to some screen. The fact that there is such a wide tech addiction consequently means that if anything is to go wrong, people would want it fixed as soon as can be. For this reason, electronic repair businesses can easily be said to be one of the most successful businesses in the world. Venturing to this business would mean that you would be called to fix every broken iPhone screen, laptop issue, WiFi cards amongst others. Another beautiful advantage is that the electronic retailers, including the Apple stores, have been notorious for very long wait times for customers and you would therefore be fixing a market gap.

An e-commerce distribution platform for upcoming small businesses

Statically, the US alone has experienced a growth in eCommerce of roughly 450 billion since the year 2016. With Amazon being the lead e-commerce distributor, there is a need for more distributors who will pay closer attention to the needs of the small businesses and the startups too. Black entrepreneurs can answer this market gap and make it their goal to attract the small businesses, those of people of color as well who may not have as much money to use on the bigger distribution platforms. It has been noted that an increase in other distributors especially for small businesses is an extremely profitable business that is recommended in 2021.

Home improvement

The business of interior design is an industry that will always be lucrative in the market. If at all the idea of renovating dull spaces and homes into sophisticated ones appeals to you then the interior design would be the best business venture for you to invest in. There is constantly scarcity in terms of exceptional remodeling contractors and therefore putting your investment into exception experts would be worthwhile. Another advantage of this industry that there is no point in time where it becomes irrelevant. Whether someone does real estate and focuses on flipping houses then reselling, or someone is moving houses, or simply making improvements to their home spaces, interior design is always needed. It was said estimated that on home improvements alone, the homeowners in the US spend an outstanding 3,000 dollars each year.

Counseling

There is an increase in the demand for counselors as well as therapists which gives the business continued success. BLS stated that there has been an increaseof 41 percent in the need for family therapists as well as marriage counselors. Considering all the malicious acts that have been being done to black people in the world, more and more people black kids are needing counseling to handle their emotions efficiently. A black entrepreneur can buy shares in a counseling firm and be a shareholder which is highly profitable if they do not have a background in counseling.

Rental Vacation system

Airbnb! That is it in one word. The hospitality industry has been getting creative and also getting more and more profitable over the years. This success is mostly attributed to the fact that Airbnb’s are preferred by tourists whether international or local because they are usually cheaper in comparison to hotels yet their services are just as good if not better than hotels. If you have a spare vacation property as a black entrepreneur, you can turn it into an asset. Also for the homeowners who are not in a position to manage their properties, they hire vacation rental systems for the management of their homes for the guests. The better a rental vacation system works, the more you will get households to be listed in your portfolio. This goes without saying that it is an effortless way to get into a business that is set to be successful.

Box services

Another venture for black entrepreneurs would be running box services. Boxing services are businesses that put together gift boxes for different occasions such as Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and many others. They mostly employ creativity and are usually extremely customizable to tailor the customers’ exact needs. Beginning a boxing service would be very profitable and you have the option of creating monthly boxing services for different enterprises through the building of premium as well as non-premium services. The range of products that a box servicing industry can offer is very wide and dependent on the industry and people you are working with. They can include toys, beauty products, wines, gourmet foods among others. Ensuring the high quality of your creations is key to gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Gourmet Coffee

If having a coffee shop such as Starbucks has ever been your fancy, then you have a good shot at doing it. Studies show that the coffee intake in the US is continuously on the increase. Because of this, you are assured of a large and unwavering market even before you start your enterprise. All that you would need as a start-up then would be a good location. This should be a place that is accessible to foot traffic, vehicles as well as cyclists easily. This would make the flow into your business place easy for all the customers. Another factor of your success, which should go without say, is high-quality coffee. You would be at an advantage if you hire trained baristas. This is an assured business venture that is bound to be successful if you go into it. Urban Grind in Atlanta is a good example of a black-owned gourmet coffee that is at the top of successful businesses.

Bike Services

There is an increase in the number of people who are becoming health conscious as well as making shifts to their lifestyle. It can be seen all over the internet how people all over the world, especially in the countries that are developed, are embracing green alternatives for meat in their diets. On top of that, many people are embracing healthier options of transportation; cycling. Data collected from bikers has revealed that there has been an increase in the number of people using bikes to commute from 47 percent to an outstanding 73 percent within 10 years. In New York, the number of people who commute using bicycles is higher than those who have cars. For this reason, investing in a bike service would be the way to go for a black entrepreneur seeking success. There is an assured market in the industry and there is also a range of options you can pick from when it comes to bikes.; there are e-bikes as well as manually powered bikes.

There is a diverse selection of successful business ventures that are black-owned and fellow black entrepreneurs would thrive across a wide range of industries. If you are the entrepreneur in need of a venture to start, what is stopping you?

Written By Kevin Ross and Darryl Littleton

Throughout history oration has moved the masses more than anything else.  The use of language coupled with persuasive rhythms and vocal dynamics can elevate standard messages to rousing calls to action.  This places paramount importance on the messenger.   When a master of linguistics and human emotions steps up to the speaker’s stand it can be aptly compared to a consummate musician performing a difficult piece reserved only for the truly proficient.    

We have established a list of some of the most outstanding Black orators in modern history in no particular order.   

TD JAKES

Born June 9, 1957 in South Charleston, West Virginia, Jakes took a ten-member congregation began in 1982 when he was made pastor at the age of 25 and built it into a mega church whose sermons in the 5000-seat arena are syndicated nationally on radio and television.

His TDJ Enterprises publish his books and produce his films. Oprah holds him up as one of the 100 Most Influential and presidents such as George W. Bush and Barack Obama prove it when they seek out Jakes for credibility as a symbol of public trust and honesty. He continues to inspire to this day.

LES BROWN

IYANLA VANZANT

Life started out bumpy for Vanzant. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 13, 1953, the back of a taxicab. Her mother died when she was two. Since her father wasn’t in her life she was raised by paternal relatives, one who raped her when she was nine.

Incredibly she survived these tragic chapters and became one of America’s most influential authors, speakers, life coach and television personalities. She was promoted heavily by Oprah Winfrey with scores of appearances of his daytime talk show. Vanzant is currently the host of “Iyanla: Fix My Life” on OWN.

MAYA ANGELOU

For all her accolades and awards, this force of nature is still vastly underrated. How can you give full props to someone so prolific and impactful? Born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928 and before demanding our attention with a series of seven autobiographies, the first being, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, Angelou had lived many of those lifetimes.

She’d been a fry cook, nightclub performer, director, sex worker, actress, SCLC coordinator, media producer, and correspondent in Ghana and Egypt during Africa’s decolonization. She worked in the Civil Rights Movement with Martin and Malcolm and was the first poet to recite her works at the presidential inauguration (of Bill Clinton) in over 30 years. This celebrated artist maintained a lecture schedule of no less than 80 appearances annually from the 1990s until her death May 28, 2014 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the age of 86.

MALCOLM X

Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925 and discovered his oration skills once his life of crime came to a screeching halt by incarceration in prison. It was there that the street hustler / pimp was recruited into the Nation of Islam. Upon his release he devoured his responsibility and became the voice and the public face of his benefactor, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Many thought Malcolm was the leader of the Nation, which soon became a problem. After an enlightening pilgrimage to Mecca, where Malcolm witnessed the full spectrum of Muslim inclusion, he returned to America with a different mindset and upon learning Elijah Muhammad had children out of wedlock, Malcolm began preaching against some of his previous stances. He left the Nation to start his own Black Nationalist Movement, but his efforts were cut short when a trio of assassins riddled him fatally with bullets on February 21, 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, New York.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR

King was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929 and rose to prominence as leader of the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1955. Catapulting from junior pastor in his father’s Baptist church, young Martin galvanized a nation with his speeches and demonstrations on nonviolence and racial equality.

In 1963 he led the monumental March on Washington and became on of the most powerful men in the country, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize. All this attention put a target on his back; especially once he took a stand against the Vietnam War during a time of national division on the issue. His activism was considered by whites and some blacks as well as the government, as agitation and an unwanted disruption of the status quo. On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39 years old.

LOUIS FARRAKHAN

On May 11, 1933, Louis Eugene Walcott was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up to initially become a successful calypso musician. He became conscious through a fellow musician who was acquainted with the Nation of Islam. He soon found himself being mentored by Malcolm X, until his death.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad promoted Farrakhan to Malcolm’s former post and Farrakhan took over the Nation when Muhammad passed. His fiery oratory, though deemed controversial by the mainstream, attracted new recruits at record rates culminating in the Million Man March on Washington DC in 1995. Health issues since slowed Farrakhan down and following a heart attack, he drastically limited his personal appearances. However, he was still a potent presence on social media until 2019 when Facebook banned him for life.

JAMES BALDWIN

This genius was born on August 2, 1924 in Harlem, New York and his teachers discovered at an early age his talent for writing and encouraged him. His groundbreaking works, such as Notes of a Native Son, were recognized and awarded, but Baldwin himself took issue with America’s stance on race and homosexuality so he left at the age of 24 and went to live in Paris, where he felt he’d be viewed more as a writer, than merely a Negro writer. His works were celebrated there as well and in 1957 he returned to America.

He gave a highly publicized lecture tour discussing the deep-rooted hypocrisy in the system. His insightful analysis gained him audiences with then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. He spoke at the March on Washington and at the time was considered one of the leading orators in the nation, with a racial approach straddling the aggressiveness of Malcolm X and the non-violence of Martin Luther King. He influenced artists for decades and on December 1, 1987 Baldwin died from stomach cancer in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Alpes-Maritimes, France.

HUEY P. NEWTON

He was born on February 17, 1942 in Monroe, Louisiana, but The Bay Area in Northern Californian molded the politics of Huey Newton While at Merritt College he met Bobby Seale and the duo co-founded the Black Panther Party. Though the organization initiated a slew of positive community programs, (many still in existence today), it was their militant and revolutionary stance that brought them in conflict with the authorities.

Newton was involved in a shootout in 1967 and sentenced to prison. There was public outcry to “Free Huey Newton” which gained an International fervor. In 1970 his conviction was overturned. He traveled to China on a speaking tour of Asia, right before President Nixon’s historic journey, and was greeted as a hero. In the United States, he remained controversial and Newton was murdered in Oakland, California on August 22, 1989 by Tyrone Robinson, a member of the Black Guerilla Family.

ANGELA DAVIS

On January 26, 1944, Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She studied French in the US and philosophy in Germany, where she received her doctorate. In 1969, she was hired as a professor by UCLA, but was fired for being a member of the Communist Party as well as affiliated with the Black Panther Party. They had to re-hired Davis, on legal grounds, but re-fired her for inflammatory language in her speeches. In 1970 guns she owned were used in the Soledad prison break, where the warden was killed.

Davis was implicated and spent a year in jail, with an outpouring of public support, and was freed on acquittal. She immediately went on a speaking tour to East Germany, the Soviet Union and Cuba, where she was beloved. Upon her return to the United States, Davis would lecture, sometimes teaching at those same institutions incognito as not to upset conservative donors She currently teaches at UC Santa Cruz and is a staunch advocate of women’s rights and the abolition of racism.

PAUL ROBESON

Actor, singer, lawyer, activist, athlete – Paul Robeson along with his captivating baritone voice was also one of the world’s greatest orators. Born in Princeton, New Jersey on April 9, 1898, Robeson, after a brief career as an attorney, became the toast of the international theatrical world until 1937. That was the year he became an activist following a trip overseas. His new attitude was discouraged by his representation, but Robeson overruled them and used his vocal abilities to advocate his causes, many adverse to America’s mindset.

He was blacklisted for decrying racism in America abroad and his passport was taken for years. His health fell ill and Paul Robeson and his one-in-a-million voice faded away in Philadelphia on January 23, 1976 from complications of a stroke. He was 77 years old. His massive funeral was held in Harlem, New York and one of his 12 pallbearers was Harry Belafonte.