by Matlaleng Babatunde

When does a Black female victim of violence become worthy of empathy? Is it after she has been "humanized" by the mentioning of a family and by the realization that she could've been you, or is the fact that she is a person-- a Black woman, enough. For many on social media it seems to be the former. Thursday morning, as I scrolled through my Tumblr, I was overwhelmed with the lingering wave of anger, grief, and pain that I've become accustomed to this summer. Another hashtag, followed by the name of yet another Black person violated and killed at the hands of state sanctioned violence.

by Leah C.K. Lewis

Shortly after the murders of the Mother Emanuel 9 in Charleston, our nation began a “conversation” about forgiveness. Nadine Collier, Ethel Lance’s daughter, forgave her mother’s murderer in what seemed like mere hours of the shooting. This stunning act of forgiveness provided us with a point of reflection. Then, at the terrorist’s bond hearing, Myra Thompson’s grandson, Anthony Thompson, conveyed his forgiveness. Christopher Singleton and his sister Camryn similarly forgave this same man who murdered their mother, the Reverend Sharonda Coleman-Singleton. Truly, Ms. Collier, Mr. Thompson, and the Singletons displayed tremendous dignity and resolve.

From the margin to the center, from the streets to our homes, the personal is always political. But how deep does that connection go? 2014 was a traumatic year for many of us—as we lost Yvette Smith, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tanisha Anderson, and several others due to state and police violence. 2014 was also a year of resistance and resilience, as we saw the rise of black activists of all narratives and identities rallying for their communities. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Marie Cullors-Brignac and Opal Tometi of Black Lives Matter have laid down a powerful foundation for sustained activism.

by Malaika Jabali


The number of black men and women who have been victimized by the hands of injustice has grown uncomfortably long in the past two years. While we have yet to see the consistent mass movement of previous generations, many of our people have been reawakened. Black celebrities have been among those joining the fight for racial justice and human rights. It’s easy to focus on those celebrities who have disappointed us with their silence, but many actors, musicians, and athletes have used their platform to raise awareness and they deserve recognition. In no particular order, this list acknowledges some of those celebrities who have been most engaged and vocal when it comes to raising consciousness—whether through social media, direct community action, or discussing these issues on mainstream broadcast media.