Of all the major developments of the Information Age, data visualization has been one of the most significant. Edward Tufte, a prominent American scholar who has been studying examples of data visualization since they first appeared on cave paintings of the Paleolithic period, has said that science and art have something in common: they both…
What were you doing when you were 12? Egypt “Ify” Ufele, a remarkable 12-year-old from Queens, is CEO and designer of her own fashion line while tirelessly standing up against bullying. As if that weren’t impressive enough, she’s a Jr Ambassador of Peace for the United Nations and she teaches other kids how to follow…
‘Becoming’ is a word full of possibility and hope; it’s a word about change and transformation, filled with intention and creative energy. It is this word that Michelle Obama has chosen for the title of her forthcoming memoir. And as we continue to get new details about the book, we are becoming more and more…
When you think of a superhero, does a black middle-aged high school principal immediately come to mind? For most people, the answer is no, but for fans of Black Lightning, he’s exactly the kind of superhero we need. Jefferson Pierce a.k.a. Black Lightning is a lesser-known superhero from the DC comic books that first appeared…
The abolition of slavery in the United States is an important topic of discussion during African-American History Month. Although the abolitionist movement is often said to have started when the Mennonite and Quaker communities of Pennsylvania published a pamphlet condemning slavery in 1688, organized resistance by Africans was recorded as early as 1522. By the…
For a film as revolutionary and as successful as Black Panther, it’s no surprise that it also has a killer soundtrack. It’s not quite a traditional soundtrack in that it features both music from the film and music “inspired by” the film. Curated by Kendrick Lamar and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, Black Panther: The Album…
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay has had a lot of firsts. She was the first African-American woman to win the US Directing Award at Sundance, the first black female director to be nominated for a Golden Globe, and the first black female director to have her film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Now, with A Wrinkle…
The film Black Panther, part of the Marvel Comics Universe, is breaking global cinema records beyond expectation, and influential figures are taking notice about the positive messages young people can derive from this movie. Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, took to Twitter to express her gratitude to the Black Panther production team…
In 2018, there will be more than one FIFA World Cup where the best national teams from around the world will match up for a shot at one of the most prestigious football awards in history. Everyone knows about the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which will kickoff in a few months; later in the…
Black Panther is a big deal. In a time of year known for having poor movie turnout, it managed to turn in the third biggest 4-day weekend ever, making over $235 million. The estimated global launch was $404 million. Every social network saw a flood of praise and excitement as people saw the movie. Black…
Ilhan Omar is no stranger to conflict. From a refugee childhood to being a favorite target of an increasingly acerbic POTUS, the self-described feminist remains optimistic and fiercely single-minded in trying to do her best at her job in Congress. A New Life in the US At age eight, Ilhan and her family were forced…
There was a time when professional athletes made financial headlines based on their disastrous investment decisions and lack of money management skills. In 2012, Miami film studio Rakontur released “Broke,” a documentary focused on the various ways athletes lose vast amounts of money, often through questionable real estate and restaurant investments that seemed to be…
Each year over 14 million tons of discarded plastic waste goes into oceans around the world. Tons of garbage made up of large amounts of plastic washed up on the coast of Jakarta, Indonesia. Plastic waste has been discovered in distant places such as the Pyrenees mountains and the ocean depths of the Mariana Trench.…
Is Prime Minister Boris Johnson the European Trump? The prospect of Brexit, the referendum expected to separate the United Kingdom from the European Union on October 31, has turned into a political Rubik’s cube in the hands of newly elected Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a controversial leader who is often compared to United States President…
