activism Archives - Rolling Out

Nate Parker’s movie career has been filled with roles that share a common theme — to spotlight injustices committed against people of color and the shame of the nation resulting from its mistreatment of Black Americans and other minorities. From his film debut in 2007’s The Great Debaters alongside Hollywood royalty Denzel Washington and Forest…

Age is not a determining factor of success. Eighteen-year-old college senior and prolific writer Fanta Ballo is evidence of that. The Harlem, New York, native tells the story of her community and identity through spoken word poetry. A rigorous academic, Ballo was the 2019 commencement speaker at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Massachusetts, where…

COVID-19 may be the illness on everyone’s mind, but it is not the only epidemic ravaging the country. When youth activist, author and nutritionist Haile Thomas was a young girl, her father was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a disease that — like the novel coronavirus — has disproportionately affected the Black community. Thomas’ family…

Kenya Moore continues her well-earned reputation of eagerly sticking her needle into fellow cast members. Moore accused fellow “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams of engaging in activism to raise her profile and respect levels, or what is termed as “clout chasing.” As rolling out reported, Williams was arrested at least twice this past…

Porsha Williams became indignant that her “Real Housewives of Atlanta” castmate Kenya Moore would dare suggest that she was “clout chasing” by engaging in protests for Breonna Taylor. The fireworks began when an Instagram user insinuated that Williams, 39, was engaging in performative activism in order to increase her own social capital over concerns about…

Keke Palmer has shut down rumors her ABC Show, “Strahan, Sara and Keke,” was canceled because of her activism. The 26-year-old actress has been speaking out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in recent weeks, and after reports spread last week that her talk show — which also stars Michael Strahan and Sara…

Lee England Jr. is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and activist. England is known as the “The Soul Violinist” for his ability to flawlessly blend R&B, hip-hop and soul. His undeniable talent has garnered the attention of Quincy Jones, Michael Jordan, and Sean“Diddy” Combs. England recently led a violin vigil for Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old…

Lenée Voss, radio talk show host, writer, blogger and activist, has been in choice social media circles since bloggers were the only change agents challenging traditional media. Her alter ego, @DopeGirlFresh, Voss’ most public voice, has emerged on Twitter as a vicarious lionheart who speaks the people’s truth. Voss is fearless in the way she…

Tina Knowles-Lawson speaks lovingly about her celebrity daughters and admits she would like to have more grandchildren. The 66-year-old businesswoman — who is the mother of Beyoncé and Solange — wants to see her beloved daughters have more children in the future. Asked if she wants more grandchildren, Knowles-Lawson told Us Weekly: “Of course I do.…

Kim Kardashian West is helping former prisoners again. The “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” star has vowed to pay for Matthew Charles’ accommodations for the next few years after he became the first person to be released from jail under the new prison reform laws. Charles was recently released from jail after serving 20 years of his 35-year sentence…

Each year on the third Monday during the month of January, people gather around the world to honor the legacy of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, on Jan. 21, 2019, Atlanta‘s historic Auburn Avenue was filled with people dedicating their holiday to activism, mindfulness and reflection. Some visited the crypts…

This Founders Day, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. are reflecting on the organization’s roots in social activism. On Jan. 13, 1913, 22 African American undergraduates at Howard University founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Their first public act was to march in Washington’s Women’s Suffrage Parade, which erupted in violence. Police did nothing to hold back the…

Beyoncé has thanked Nelson Mandela for “changing the trajectory for so many.” The “Run The World” hitmaker has paid tribute to the late former President of South Africa for paving the way with his anti-apartheid activism. In her open letter, she wrote: “I first met you in 2004 for the 46664 AIDS Benefit Concert in…

“This Bitter Earth” is a song recorded by the great Dinah Washington that speaks to life’s realities. Written by David Rivers and directed by Mikael Burke, the stage version currently playing at the About Face Theater at Theater Wit in Chicago stars actors Sheldon Brown and Daniel Desmarais. Brown and Desmarais play an interracial couple whose…

Janelle Monae wants to use her platform to show her “support” for causes she cares about. The 32-year-old singer and actress revealed earlier this year that she identifies as pansexual — a term usually used to characterize a person whose sexual preference is not limited by biological sex, gender or gender identity — and has…

Giving back never looked so good. Rihanna is using her Fenty Beauty line to contribute to a cause and she’s offering fans an opportunity to do so, as well. On August 1, 2018, Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty’s namesake cosmetic brand, Fenty Beauty, announced a new partnership with the Clara Lionel Foundation to help fund mission work in…

The city of Atlanta is having a real problem when it comes to social activism and the new school leaders that are rising. No longer is Atlanta seeing social movements that have roots in the Black church, but rather movements that have roots in social media, coffee shops, living rooms and the streets by young millennials. These…

Although actress Rosario Dawson hasn’t graced the big screen in quite some time, she’s most definitely on the protest circuit. On Friday, April 16, the Top Five star was briefly arrested, ticketed and released during a protest at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Donned in a jacket bearing the likeness of Democratic presidential candidate U.S.…

Erick Nunez is a social worker in New York City committed to raising HIV/AIDS awareness via his work with both Brightpoint Health and the YGBLI. He talks about stereotypes in how the ongoing epidemic is being addressed in Black and Latino communities by the media.