Charmyonne Bailey, Author at Rolling Out

Meet rookie singer, model and instrumentalist Tanerélle Stephens. The triple threat ignited a following for her music on Spotify with more than 3 million streams and took social media by storm when she introduced the voluptuous liberation of her body in her posts. This year, her new single, “In Women We Trust,” has been in rotation in…

Entrepreneur, author and international motivational speaker Chris Gardner is giving us a lesson on how to become successful. Reaching his goals did not come without hardships and obstacles. As a child, the Milwaukee native struggled as a victim of rape, domestic violence and abandonment. He would later find himself as a homeless single parent. Today,…

While Essence Fest is largely known for their memorable musical performances, fashion and cultural celebrations, it also focuses on educational growth in the Black community. Essence Fest created a “Community Corner” comprised of booths featuring 501(c)(3) nonprofits, colleges and universities and grass-roots organizations. It came as no surprise that the National Council of Negro Women…

Essence Fest has become the mecca of Black celebration. Black people from all walks of life come to New Orleans to celebrate their culture and bask in all things Black. HBCU booths are featured, Southern and Creole food are in abundance and Black love fills the city. It is a melting pot of talent, creativity…

HBO hit show “Insecure” hosted a “Live Wine Down” at Essence Fest this year. The popular comedy series’ creator, executive producer and star, Issa Rae, sat down with TV bestie Yvonne Orji and showrunner Prentice Penny to recap the end of season two and raise the curtain on the upcoming season. “Insecure Wine Down”…

Washington, D.C has welcomed another Black man on Pennsylvania Avenue this year. He may not be President Obama (oh, how we wish!), but his contributions lead to significant changes on and off Capitol Hill. Marion Barry Jr., best known as D.C.’s “Mayor for Life,” was honored with an 8-foot tall bronze statue. The larger-than-life sculpture…

When you think of moonshine, you probably picture a man wearing overalls living in the backwoods sipping on a strong clear drink out of a Mason jar. That image will probably change in a few years due to Southern Wicked Lemonade (SWL). Naomie Lucas, the founder and CEO of SWL, is on a mission to…

When you were elementary school you were probably worried about homework, video games or your favorite Saturday morning cartoon. Well, Savannah Britt was running her own magazine. Britt founded online and print magazine Girlpez at age 11 and was crowned the “Youngest Magazine Publisher in the World.” Girlpez was a publication designed to empower teen…

Washington, D.C. was dubbed the “murder capital” of the U.S. in the early ’90s. Violence was at an all-time high and the drug scene was still collapsing neighborhoods. During the decline of D.C. communities, Cora Masters Barry saw the youth suffer most, which led to her creating the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC). The…

His side-splitting humor has made comedian Rip Micheals a household name. His ability to captivate an audience has landed him on popular shows like “Def Comedy Jam,” “Bad Boys of Comedy,” “Comic View” and “Wild ‘N Out.” The Chicago native migrated to New York City with jokes and a dream to become one of the…

Presented by Oath, Serena and Venus Williams hosted their “A Family Affair” event at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) in Washington, D.C. It was a day of tennis, fashion, empowerment and community discussion welcomed by Cora Masters Barry, founder of SETLC. In connection with the Williams Sister Fund, the tennis legends launched the…

Executive producer Jash’d Kambui Belcher | Photo credit: Tom Priest HBCUs were established as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society domestic agenda under the Higher Education Act of 1965. In Title III Sec. 322 [20 U.S.C. 1061] of the HEA, Congress defined an HBCU as “… any historically Black college or university that was established prior to…

Typically when attending a play, you are prepared to sit in an audience filled room to enjoy live performers on a stage. Sounds like a fun night until you experience immersive theater. Immersive theater is when the audience is brought into the same playing space as the performers, creating a live experience where you become co-actors…

We all know that Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a spitfire. The longest-serving Black woman in the House speaks her mind every chance she gets, against any opponent, and on any platform. She has shown time and time again that she can hold her own. Her popularity was heightened after she refused to attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. The…

Washington, D.C.’s Hilton Hotel & Resorts kicked off this past Mother’s Day weekend with an engaging tea party for girls. As part of Hilton’s support for the U.N. Women’s Empowerment Principles, which promotes gender equity, the renowned hotel sponsored The Sister Accord Leadership Enrichment Tea Party. Hilton’s sponsorship of the event is also part of the brand’s 2017 multicultural marketing initiative,…

As events kick off the grand opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), perhaps the most anticipated museum opening for the nation’s capital, the turn-out has been astounding. Thousands are expected to attend the opening weekend where President Barack Obama will lead the museum’s dedication ceremony. Those who have not already retrieved their free…

The White House United State of Women Summit brought over 5,000 people to the nation’s capital ready to address issues with women’s inequality. The two-day summit featured numerous speakers, celebrities, business leaders and activists who spoke about a better quality of life for all women and girls. Some of the topics discussed were economic empowerment, health and wellness…

As of the end of May, there has been a lot of hoopla over singer Tamar Braxton being fired from “The Real” talk show. There has been speculation about how and why she was fired. It has been claimed that Braxton was having issues with the production team due to her diva attitude. It was also claimed that she was…

Vote It Loud hosted its first ever Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner. The star-studded event paid tribute to cultured media experts who don’t receive the recognition they deserve in mainstream media. Vote It Loud Corp. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation established to inform people of color that civic engagement can be used as an effective…

On May. 7, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to speak at Howard University’s commencement convocation since President Lyndon B. Johnson over 50 years ago. LBJ’s speech, at the now culturally diverse university, in 1965, sparked controversy as he highlighted poverty in the Black community, inequality and the right to vote. Journalists have raved…