SELECTED WORK

The Making and Unmaking of Iggy Azalea

During the summer of 2010, Iggy Azalea lived free of charge in a guest house in Los Angeles, courtesy of Polow Da Don. As the producer behind Fergie’s biggest hits, he saw Iggy as the second coming and wanted to groom her into a pop star. But Iggy had a much different vision—she wanted to be a hardcore rapper.

Inside the Racial Tensions of the Ivy League

During the week of Halloween, Yale University’s Intercultural Affairs Council sent a campus-wide memo, appealing for students to be sensitive about their costumes. Days later, a faculty member opposed the minority conglomerate’s memo in a letter, invoking free speech.

Tyra Banks Taketh and Giveth, But Mostly Giveth, in Her ANTM Return

Tyra Banks has officially back from Rita Ora, and so in Monday night’s season premiere, she got down to what she does best: tricking people into thinking their dreams have been dashed forever.

Can The Weeknd Make It As a Pop Star?

It wasn’t until two years after The Weeknd dropped his first mixtape, 2011’s House of Balloons—to majority praise but with zero publicity—that he finally felt comfortable enough to grant his first interview.

The Makeup Industry's Frustrating Cycle of Struggle and Progress for Women of Color

It wasn’t until two years after The Weeknd dropped his first mixtape, 2011’s House of Balloons—to majority praise but with zero publicity—that he finally felt comfortable enough to grant his first interview.

Who Gets to Own ‘Black Girl Magic’?

Last year, in honor of Black History Month, Essence Magazine chose a familiar, powerful phrase to brand its February 2016 issue: “Black Girl Magic.” In a corresponding video, the women featured on three separate covers were asked to personally define what the phrase meant.

How ‘i am not your negro’ is a reminder of hollywood’s power to lie

In a scene from John M. Stahl’s 1934 film Imitation of Life, a fair-skinned girl named Peola sits in a classroom, listening to her teacher read Little Women. Upon seeing her mother Delilah—a black housekeeper played by actress Louise Beavers—enter the room in search of her, Peola conceals her face with a book.

HOw will ‘girls’ end? A few predictions

As the Girls finale approaches on April 16, I can’t help but wonder how this little adventure will end. Here, I’ve thought up a few predictions for the last scene of its series finale.

Cardi B Proves Star Quality Is Elusive On a Promising Rap Talent Show

Cardi B arrives to an empty meeting room at the Dream Hotel in Los Angeles, in Episode 5 of Rhythm + Flow, wearing a white bathrobe with the hotel’s name embroidered on it and a towel atop her head. While eating oysters—and ignoring that eating oysters is kind of a sensual experience—she tells her colleagues, T.I. and Chance the Rapper, who are both clothed, that she’s not dressed yet because she’s waiting for her wig; and getting ready takes her more time than it does them.