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

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

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

Black people in America are still dealing with trauma that has traveled through generations. From slavery to Jim Crow, segregation, racial violence, the disruption of Black families, economic hardship, and the continued struggles facing our communities, there were generations of Black people who experienced tremendous pain without ever having access to therapy, counseling, or even the opportunity to properly process what had happened to them. Pain that is never addressed does

Raising children is one of life’s greatest responsibilities, yet there is no instruction manual that perfectly prepares any parent for the journey. Every mother and father makes decisions based on love, experience, and the knowledge they have at the time. That is why parenting was never intended to be carried by one perspective alone. Healthy child development thrives when mothers and fathers each bring the unique gifts they were created to provide. Today, we want to focus o

Photos: www.blxproductions.com One of the greatest forms of freedom is learning to see yourself through your own eyes instead of through standards created by someone else. For generations, beauty has often been defined by cultures and industries that did not always celebrate the natural features of Black women. During slavery and long afterward, many harmful messages suggested that tightly coiled hair, darker skin, and African features were something to hide or “fix.” Those i

There is a common saying: “God will never put more on your shoulders than you can bear.” For many people, those words provide comfort. But there is another reality we don’t discuss often enough. Sometimes the strongest people are carrying far more than anyone realizes. The dependable parent. The reliable friend. The leader everyone calls. The sibling who keeps the family together. The person who never seems to complain. When life falls apart, everyone knows exactly who to cal