Posts by Kikora N. Mason
US crime bill does little for black women
Last week, EBONY published an article about the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, simply known as the crime bill, and its effect on black women — something I’d never considered. The bill, which was originally authored by then-Senator Joe Biden, remains the largest crime bill in history. It included funding for…
Read MoreIssa Rae encourages more creativity on TV with ‘Color Creative’ project
What do we want? More diversity on TV. When do we want it? Yesterday! And writer-director-producer, Issa Rae is no stranger to exploring the “other.” Rae’s new project, Color Creative TV, which supports minority writers by showcasing their work and eventually selling it, released a few new projects recently. “Bleach” features an OCD carpet cleaner who’s…
Read MoreGLAAD study finds gay depictions increase on TV
Last week, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released a study saying television has increased its depiction of gay, lesbian and bisexual characters, with the edge going to cable and the Internet over broadcast networks. According to the Associated Press, networks are promoting the understanding of gay lives with some of the most inclusive…
Read MoreChicago artist, YP talks latest project, ‘Backwood Jones’
Chicago welcomes 25th annual African Festival of the Arts
For anyone who thinks black businesses are dying, they have obviously never been to the annual African festival held in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. Beginning on Friday, August 29 and wrapping up on Labor Day, Washington Park was transformed into an African marketplace, filled with hundreds of vendors selling everything…
Read MoreMusiq Soulchild brings love, not ‘The Husel’ to Chicago’s Annual African Festival
Soulful. Charming. Charismatic. These are just a few words to describe Musiq Soulchild when he performs live. Chicago was fortunate enough to get a healthy dose of the R&B crooner at the city’s 25th Annual African Festival of the Arts, hosted by Africa House International, USA — a nonprofit organization committed to providing exposure to…
Read MoreAlex Wiley talks ‘Village Party’ and choosing an indie label over a major
Chicago hip-hop artists bring fashion and bars to annual African Festival
Since its birth in the late 197os, the culture of hip-hop has traditionally consisted of four elements: emceeing, break dancing, graffiti art and deejaying. But the growing popularity of fashion within the culture makes it a contender to possibly be the fifth element. Over the weekend, Chicago hosted the 25th annual African Festival of the…
Read MoreSpoken Word: “Target” by Anthony Ragler
Harry Belafonte to receive honorary Oscar
Actor Harry Belafonte is being honored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for his humanitarian work. The honorary award will be received by Belafonte at the academy’s Governors Awards on November 8. Though known as the “king of calypso” and having shared the screen with the likes of the gorgeous Dorothy Dandridge, Belafonte…
Read MoreLil’ Bibby drops new mixtape, hosts listening session in Chicago
“[It’s time to] put on for the city of Chicago…we have it all here.” Some might remember the anticipation that builds internally when the Christmas tree is finally up and you see all the gifts under the tree, but you can’t open a single gift until Christmas Day. Tearing open that first present brings so much…
Read MoreNex2Kin, Scotty ATL headline latest Hustlepalooza showcase
It is so refreshing for Chicago to finally be getting some positive media coverage, isn’t it? Today the Windy City welcomed home Little Leaguers, Jackie Robinson West with a parade leading to Millennium Park. Last weekend, the city welcomed another showcase of rising hip-hop talent positioned to take the music industry by storm. Music industry…
Read MoreUS military reconsiders natural hairstyles
Following some pretty harsh backlash, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the U.S. military has reconsidered the authorization of natural hairstyles for soldiers. African American soldiers and members of the Congressional Black Caucus felt the hair policies were racially insensitive. The inclusion of terms like “matted and unkempt,” in the military’s directions on which styles were unacceptable did not help matters…
Read MoreTalib Kweli encourages Don Lemon to not lose focus on tragic death of Mike Brown
Soulster Kem brings Chicagoans out to ‘Promise to Love’ event
Sometimes we just need a little more love. Right? On Wednesday, one of Chicago’s swankiest music venues located in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, The Shrine, brought some of Chicago’s professionals out to for listening party of R&B crooner, Kem. His new album is appropriately titled, Promise To Love. Given the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri,…
Read MoreReuben Reuel: Winning the style game with African print inspired pieces
Say hello to Reuben. Reuben Reuel is a seemingly overnight sensation since Beyoncé was seen rocking his duds earlier this summer — however, that isn’t necessarily true. In fact, he admits Michelle (from Destiny’s Child) was actually the first celebrity to rock his work. Reuel, 28, has spent the last four years building his clothing…
Read MoreDiggy Simmons and Trevor Jackson talk ‘My Girl’ and Bud Billiken parade in Chicago
Organizer of Bud Billiken parade says Chicago media focuses too much on violence after teens were shot
Beverly Reed-Scott, organizer of the country’s largest African American parade, said at a Sunday news conference that, despite the violence, she was disappointed to see headlines about the parade focus on what she considered a “minor incident,” per the Chicago Sun-Times. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, after two young men got into a confrontation…
Read MoreChicago resident says white people need to move into neighborhood so it stays clean
Residents of a mostly Latino neighborhood in Chicago, Hermosa, want white people to move in so the city takes better care of the neighborhood and a large park in the area, Kelvyn Park. Unfortunately, these residents feel this is the only way to get city officials to notice the area. A Reddit user posted the…
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