A Detroit native, Kenneth 'Kenny' Williams Jr. is a self-described cultural critic and visual storyteller. Kenneth's passions include pop culture, writing, cultural commentating.
From Medicine To Millions: How Dr. Heavenly Is Empowering Others One Smile At A Time
In this lifetime, it is seldom that many individuals experience the intersection between passion and purpose. It should come as no surprise that the multitude of obstacles on one’s life journey can deter them from seeing such alignment but that isn’t always the case for everyone, especially not Dr. Heavenly Kimes.
Kimes, also known as Dr. Heavenly to the millions of viewers who tune in each week to Bravo’s Married to Medicine, is a true testament to the power that lies in manifesting one’s dr...
How Mentorship Is The Ultimate Prize Within The Breakdancing Community
Whether it’s donating to your collegiate alma mater, giving up skilled service hours, or volunteering at your local food bank, people all over the world practice giving back to their communities in ways that best meet their means. For “b-boys'' and “breakers,” the definition of skilled service or paying it forward is mentoring the next generation of young men who will eventually take the mantle within the highly-competitive breakdance field.
Last month, a plethora of breakers from around the ...
More Than Just Complex Foot Work: This Native Detroit Dancer Says ‘Jit’ Saves Lives
When it comes to the art of storytelling, the city of Detroit could be synonymous with the term. With its breeding of prolific artists in various realms of entertainment from Diana Ross to Big Sean, Motor City is known for producing some of the fiercest creatives who tell their stories, on their own terms, by way of passion and craft. One such storyteller is Gabrielle McLeod, also known as ‘Queen Gabby’ — Detroit’s ‘Queen of Jit.’
McLeod describes Jit, a form of dance native to Detroit and ro...
How TT The Artist Is Paving The Way For Black, Queer Creatives On And Off The Stage
"We are the trendsetters, we're literally creating dope sh*t all the time," TT the Artist said.
Over the course of the past year, Black, queer representation has taken center stage in the media landscape, and quite frankly? It’s been a long time coming. From Pose to Legendary, we’ve been able to witness the beginning of a modern-day renaissance period in which Black LGBTQ+ voices and stories are front and center.
While these delineations have taken up space accurately portraying the nuances o...
11 Of The Most Epic Reality Television Show Reunion Moments
We’d be remiss not to highlight the wild moments that have happened at reality television reunion specials over the years.
Over the last few weeks, fans of The Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP) franchise have been overjoyed, to say the least. Sure, the thought of bearing witness to any sort of resolution between the various issues that have plagued the Potomac divas is tantalizing, but there’s more. When news broke that award-winning rapper Nicki Minaj would take part in hosting the season si...
11 Black-Owned Brands We're Shopping At This Holiday Season
Get your card, cash and Klarna ready.
Black Friday is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the biggest shopping day of the year than to highlight Black businesses? It’s no secret that 2021 has been one for the books, and if you’re like us, we know you’re itching to spend some of your hard-earned money on Black-owned brands. Don’t know where to start? Fear no more, we’ve got you covered! With a combination of small businesses and those that are more well-known, you’re sure to find somethi...
9 Black-Led Organizations To Support On Giving Tuesday
Pay it forward since you can't pay it back.
As we head into the holiday season, we’d be remiss if we didn’t have any dialogue around what it means to give back. Sure, the holidays are largely centered around receiving the perfect gift, but what does it mean to give the perfect gift? With many organizations around the country fighting for Black liberation, we’ve decided to compile a list of some of our favorites for your consideration. Since Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, we encour...
Yes, Colorism Does Exist On The Real Housewives Of Potomac
In no way should Candiace Dillard-Bassett be excused for the horrendous things that come out of her mouth, but if she is to be held accountable, everyone else should be, too.
If you’re an avid viewer of reality television, like the vast majority of Black Twitter, you’ve seen some pretty heated debates on your timeline. The argument in question? Whether or not Candiace Dillard-Bassett is deserving of the harsh criticism she receives or if most of it is rooted in colorism. For those who are unf...
9 Iconic Black Friendships On Television
In a world where white supremacy runs rampant, terrorizing anyone who doesn’t fall within the white gaze, rebellion is inevitable. An understated form of rebellion? The beauty and boldness of Black friendships. Time and time again, we’ve seen the atrocities committed against our community for simply existing in our Blackness.
Throughout those horrendous moments, many of us have been able to lean in on our tribes for support and camaraderie. When we discuss generational curses or generational ...
Introducing Pap Chanel: The Country Girl Of Our Dreams
The Georgia rapper talks her new album, being an alpha female and how country living sets her apart from the rest.
When life gives you lemons, you can either make lemonade or sonically superb anthems that speak to an entire generation. That may not be exactly how the old adage goes, but it’s exactly what up-and-coming rapper Pap Chanel is doing. Hailing from Milledgeville, Georgia, the Gen Z musician is taking the world by storm through her unique sound, particularly in the way she affirms yo...
How Brandy Is Paying It Forward While Staying True To Herself
The singer and actor talks her latest collaboration with T.J.Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods.
What exactly makes someone a legend? Is it someone who’s proven themselves and their obvious talent time and time again? Can it be someone who has managed to stand the test of time, transcending multiple decades? How about an individual who has laid a musical blueprint that evokes inspiration out of an entire industry of their peers down to up-and-coming artists 20 years their junior?
Cut The BS: The Double Standards Between Female and Male Rappers Need To Stop
In 2022, let’s do away with the double standards and put energy towards true allyship and support of Black women and their inventiveness.
Imagine showing up to work one day to give a presentation. This isn’t just any presentation, though—it’s one that you’ve been preparing for since the onset of your career, and you’re pretty excited to showcase your chops. Imagine leaving said presentation and hopping on social media to see a gaggle of keyboard warriors picking a part your entire performance...
7 Dream Destinations To Consider This Holiday Season
At Blavity News, we’re all about exercising self-care and what better way to do so than to vacation (safely)?
All we want for Christmas is a vacation. While Mariah Carey might say otherwise, we’re sticking to our guns. Since 2020, we’ve been collectively entrenched in a raging pandemic with severe ebbs and flows and as a result, many of us are burnt out. A survey, released earlier this year from Indeed, found that 52% of respondents are feeling burnt out from their professional roles.
We're Still In A Pandemic And Our Friends Deserve Grace, Now, More Than Ever
On the alternative, instead of chastising our tribe for not showing up for us, how can we show up for them?
Who does your tribe consist of? Whether it’s made up of mainly childhood friends from your old stomping grounds or your college roommates that you met at such a pivotal time in your life, they’re your homies. Most importantly, they’ve got your back through thick and thin. However, the real question is, do you have theirs? With shows like HBO’s Insecure and Amazon Prime’s Harlem centerin...
7 Classic Movies To Get You In The Holiday Spirit This Year
It's officially time to start binging your faves.
What’s your favorite holiday movie of all time? Is it the emotional and riveting Holiday Heart with Ving Rhames and Alfre Woodard? Or could it be The Preacher’s Wife with longtime fan favorites Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington? If you’re like us and can’t choose, never fear—we got you. In lieu of the holiday season upon us, we’ve decided to compile a list of seven films that will surely get you in the holiday spirit. With the world enteri...