There are some people whose work cannot be measured by how many cameras show up, how many headlines carry their name, or how much recognition they receive. Their true measure is found in the lives they touch, the people they feed, the conflicts they help prevent, and the generations they refuse to give up on. Brother Al Malik Farrakhan Brother Al Malik Farrakhan is one of those brothers. Through Ceasefire: Don’t Smoke the Brothers and Sisters, Brother Al Malik has spent decad

When Brother Edward Tate of Message in the Music asked us to sit down with Washington, D.C. vocalist Yendy Brown, better known as Ms. Yendy, we expected to talk about music. What unfolded became something much deeper. For those familiar with the DMV music scene, Ms. Yendi is known for bringing an old-school quality to the stage—where singing is only part of the performance. There is presentation, musicianship, personality and an understanding that an audience came not only to

Sister Jayne's journey from Kenya to the international chess stage shows what can happen when talent meets opportunity. There are stories that don't need tragedy or controversy to make them important. Sometimes we discover a young person doing something extraordinary, reminding us that while much of the world competes for our attention with everything going wrong, there are still children quietly showing us what can go right. Sister Jayne Awuor is one of those children. At ju

When greatness becomes a platform for something greater There are moments in sports history when an athlete becomes larger than the uniform, championship or statistics attached to his name. Muhammad Ali understood that. Jim Brown understood it. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar understood it. Decades later, Colin Kaepernick made a decision that placed him within that same American tradition: the athlete willing to risk comfort and acceptance to speak about conditions affecting people beyon

As the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party approaches, history gives us an opportunity to look beyond the black berets, raised fists and photographs that became symbols of an era. The more important question is what conditions caused young Black men and women to believe that another organization was necessary after generations of struggle had already produced abolitionists, Reconstruction leaders, civil-rights organizations, churches, activists and ordinary citizens d

As children across America return to school, a major Florida recovery operation gives families another reason to talk about where our children are, who they are communicating with, and whether they know what to do when something goes wrong. As another school year begins across much of America, families are returning to familiar routines. School buses are rolling again, after-school activities are beginning, teenagers are reconnecting with friends, and children are spending mo

Sometimes the most important story coming out of a disaster is not only what went wrong. Sometimes it is what people decide to do next. On August 11, 2026, a powerful derecho tore through northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service recorded a 99 mph wind gust at Gary/Chicago International Airport, while later assessments estimated winds reaching 100 to 110 mph in portions of the region. Trees came down. Utility lines were damaged. Homes and businesse

For generations, Black families have understood that owning a home means more than having somewhere to live. Property can provide stability, build wealth and leave the next generation something tangible to build upon. For many of our elders, acquiring that property came during a time when discrimination in housing and lending made Black homeownership far more difficult than it should have been. That history makes what happened in a series of New York property cases worth our

In April 2026, representatives of African-descended communities from around the world gathered at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, for the Fifth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. The official theme was “Expanding the human rights of people of African descent under the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.” From April 14–17, discussions addressed reparatory justice, cultural heritage, the human rights

When disaster strikes a community, surviving the storm is only the beginning. What happens in the days, weeks and years afterward can be just as important. Who gets electricity restored? Who can afford to replace spoiled food? Which businesses survive? Who receives assistance? And which families have enough resources to remain stable until normal life returns? Those questions have become painfully real in Gary, Indiana. On August 11, 2026, severe storms tore through northwest

A BLXCR Community Business Spotlight Sometimes entrepreneurship begins with a simple decision: believe in your ability, take a chance on yourself, and turn a talent into something tangible. Inside Iverson Mall in Temple Hills, Maryland, BLXCR had an opportunity to speak with Brother Antoine, owner and chef of Pro Cakes, a local business celebrating a decade of serving customers throughout the community. Brother Antoine said Pro Cakes has been going strong since 2016. Reaching

Sometimes improving our health doesn't begin inside a gym. It can begin with a pair of walking shoes, an open conversation, and brothers willing to make time for one another. I had the opportunity to spend time with Brother Hawk, Brother Smitty, Brother Jamie, and other loving brothers during their Hour of Power. What I witnessed was simple but meaningful: men getting active while creating room for conversations that don't always happen in everyday life. As we walked, the sub

The story of Black farmers in America cannot begin in 2026. To understand why the concerns raised by National Black Farmers Association President John Boyd Jr. deserve our attention, we have to understand the history that brought us here. For generations, Black people provided labor that helped build America’s economic foundation. During the brutal institution of slavery, enslaved Africans and their descendants worked agricultural land and produced valuable commodities—includ

CREWS brings residents, organizers, faith leaders and community partners together for service, recognition and a vision for transformation BLXCR Community Report “Something good can come out of Ward 8.” Those words captured the spirit of a tenant appreciation gathering at the Vista, where residents, seniors, children, organizers, volunteers and community partners came together with CREWS — Communities Respecting Everyone’s Will to Survive. Brother Edward Tate Addressing The C

BLXCR Community Tribute | August 16, 2026 Some stories are difficult to write because, somewhere along the journey, the people you are watching no longer feel like strangers. For those who followed Nathan and his mother, Sister Sherri, known across social media as Purple Gaia, that feeling became very real. She lovingly called her son “Nate Dawg.” Through videos, photographs, music, laughter, dance battles, difficult days and beautiful moments, they allowed people around the

A BLXCR Tribute There are champions remembered for the trophies they won, the medals they wore, and the opponents they defeated. Then there are those whose greatest victories cannot be placed inside a trophy case. Grandmaster Albert Cheeks was both. BLXCR extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, students, and all those whose lives were touched by Grandmaster Albert Cheeks. His passing represents the loss of a respected martial artist, teacher, spiritual leader,

Sometimes changing your life means being willing to leave what is familiar and step into something completely different. For Sister AlQamar, that step took her thousands of miles from the United States to Tanzania, where what began as a major transition has now become home. After living there for two years, Sister Al Qamar describes the experience as spiritual, peaceful, and life-changing. But her story isn't about telling everybody in America to pack their bags and move to A

Brother Edward Tate on healing, unity, ownership, and the work required to rebuild our communities. A BLXCR Exclusive There are interviews where you learn about an organization, and then there are interviews where you begin to understand the heart of the person behind the work. Our conversation with Brother Edward Tate was one of those moments. For years, Brother Edward has poured his time, energy, and spirit into community service, including his work through Message in the

By BLXCR Staff Every community has people whose stories deserve to be heard—not because they lived perfect lives, but because they found the strength to rise after life knocked them down. Their experiences become more than personal memories; they become roadmaps for others who are still searching for hope. When Sister Petergay sat down with BLXCR, she did not come seeking sympathy or attempting to rewrite history. She came with a testimony. Throughout our conversation, she sp

A death in Mississippi has reopened painful memories—and renewed an important conversation about transparency, accountability, and public confidence. Every family deserves answers when a loved one dies under unexplained or troubling circumstances. For the family of 29-year-old Sister Tasia Fortune, that search for answers became part of their grief after she was found hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi. Authorities have confirmed that Sister Fort