Meet the Press Moderator Chuck Todd Confuses Late Literary Icon Toni Morrison With Maya Angelou

Dear Chuck Todd,

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Keep Growing Throughout the Winter With Up to 30% Off VIVOSUN's Gardening Gear

Up to 30% Off VIVOSUN Indoor Gardening Gear | Amazon

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Republican Gets Spine for Christmas, Finds That Mitch McConnell Is Shady AF

In news that can only be described as shocking, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski told an Anchorage TV station that she’s “disturbed” by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) admission that he’s already decided his position on Trump’s impeachment.

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Black Girls With Braids Banned From Harlem Production of Black Nutcracker

According to PIX11, two Harlem girls were banned from wearing their braids in the annual Christmas ‘Nutcracker’ production.

Lisa Skinner says her two daughters, 9-year old April and 10-year old Brooke, were banned from the school’s production of “Black Nutcracker” because they chose to wear their hair in braids, although they were instructed not to.

The Uptown Dance Academy does a yearly performance of the Black Nutcracker for its annual fundraiser and the Academy students are the featured performers of the play. ”I feel bad I can’t participate just because of my hair,” April tells PIX11. The girls have been going to the academy for three years, under the tutelage of teacher and founder of the school, Robin Williams.

Related: Dove Joins Effort to Ban Discrimination Against Natural Black Hairstyles

It’s always been the rule that the dancers must secure their hair in a bun for their own safety, Skinner says this year, her daughters were told ‘no braids’, even if it’s tied up in a bun. “She said to me if they show up in braids to the ‘Black Nutcracker,’ they will not be permitted to participate,” said Skinner. ”They were expelled from the school because I would not adhere to this ludicrous policy and she said to me then I will send you a refund of your ticket purchase money.”

On the Uptown Dance Academy website was a statement from Uptown Dance Academy Founder Robin Williams

I, Robin Williams have never ever during my 50+ years in dance told Black girls their braids are not beautiful.

 

We have performed the Black Nutcracker in Harlem and the Bronx for 25 years at the Apollo, Aaron Davis Hall, Oberia Dempsey Theater and other venues. As a Ballet Academy, our policy has always been that students wear their hair in a bun for classes whether it’s braided or not. However, for a Traditional Classical Ballet Production, our policy has always been for all the dancers to wear their hair in an unbraided classical ballet bun.

 

For our Photo Day, June, and Summer Recitals students are allowed to wear their hair in any style they want as long as it isn’t dangerous for acrobatic stunts. Extremely long or thick braids and beaded hairstyles are definitely dangerous for young trainees while turning and flipping.

 

Uptown Dance Academy has trained students to be adaptive to all professional training programs. Most professional dance schools require you to wear buns for training and especially for performances. In classical ballet, the hairstyle is expected to be the same for each female.

 

Parents were not told they couldn’t perform if they wore braids, they were told they cannot perform if they don’t follow policies.

 

As luck would have it, Alvin Ailey invited the girls to watch a show on Christmas Eve!

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35 Black Podcasts You Need To Tune Into and Download

The podcasting market has boomed over the last couple of years for black podcasters. Companies like Spotify and Google are often on the lookout to help people find and establish their voice through podcasting. And, with platforms like Anchor.fm, you can record, edit, and distribute your podcast from your smartphone.

Yes, it can be that simple.

Related: 3 Things to Expect and 3 Hacks for Launching Your Own Podcast

Podcasts have become a popular way for people to slow down, listen attentively, and learn new things. For some, they’re even therapeutic.

If you’re looking to explore mind, body, soul, money and more—take a look at these 35 podcasts produced by black podcasters.

1. Your Money, Your Life

your money your life

Your money, Your Life covers money topics ranging from how to control your debt to your psychological relationship with your finances.

#EVERYDAYMONEYMOVES

2. Reid This Reid That

Reid This Reid That is a podcast hosted by play cousins Jacque Reid and Joy-Ann Reid who happen to be professional journalists that you may have heard of… or not. Anywho, we cover pop culture, politics and black girl magic all while having fun.

3. Hey Jason

 Jason Rosario, founder of The Lives of Men and Host of the Yahoo! News original series, Dear Men invites you to an open forum discussing masculinity and manhood.

 4. Affirm 

This biweekly mental health podcast is for women of color who seek wholeness through affirming their worth and placing value on their mental health.

5. Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Let Your Voice Be Heard! is an energetic, award-winning weekly show founded, executive produced, and co-hosted by Black Enterprise’s digital editor, Selena Hill. LYVBH is committed to informing, educating, and empowering millennials on political and social issues via discussion and in-depth interviews with influential leaders

 6. Balanced Black Girl

This self-care podcast hosted by Lestraundra Alfred is known for providing a dose of real-life wellness for women of color. She often has guests on who have candid discussions surrounding healthy lifestyle and happiness.

7. The Get My Life Tour 

The Get My Life Tour is a ‘how through’ podcast. Every stop on this tour (podcast) is designed to help you take center stage in your life. Join BE‘s Lydia T. Blanco and a host of exceptional experts as they share how you can live the life you were created live by showing up for yourself. Admission is Free.

8. Confessions of a Werkaholic 

Confessions of a Werkaholic is a weekly podcast show that shares the untold secrets of fearless female entrepreneurs.

9. Black Girl Podcast

Having met at radio station Hot 97, hosts Scottie Beam, Gia Peppers, Sapphira, Bex, and Alysha P come together for giggle-worthy conversation on the topics of sisterhood, pop culture, love, dreams, and growth.

10. Black Women About Business

This entrepreneurial podcast, hosted by Demarra Gardner, MA, LPC, CAC, is fairly new to the scene, beginning in November of 2018. All episodes are under 20 minutes in length and deliver information to support black females to “intersect business, leadership, and wellness.”

11. Clever Girls Know

Hosted by Bola Sokunbi, this podcast is a platform for financial education that assists women to get out of debt, save, and build their wealth. If you’re looking to improve, maintain or build upon your wealth, this one is for you.

12. Girl CEO Podcast

The Girl CEO Podcast is the playground for entrepreneurs. A podcast for women to learn, grow, be honest about their shortfalls, and most importantly, play. This podcast is an extension of Ronne Browns Girl CEO community and an opportunity for you to hear from her and her amazing guests each week.

13. Courtney Sanders Show 

On The Courtney Sanders Show (formally known as The Think and Grow Chick Podcast), host Courtney dives into entrepreneurship, finances, spirituality, and personal growth topics that are sure to kick you in the butt to chase your goals.

14. The Nod 

The Nod tells the stories of black life that don’t get told anywhere else. Our show ranges from an explanation of purple drink’s association with black culture to the story of an interracial drag troupe that traveled the nation in the 1940s. We celebrate the genius, the innovation, and the resilience that is so particular to being black — in America, and around the world.

15. Gettin’ Grown

Hosts Keia and Jade are two happy and whole 30-somethings figuring their adult lives out. On a weekly basis, they discuss all things regarding black women self-care and pet peeves sure to give the listening audience a chuckle.

 16. Halfway Bougie

In this podcast, hosts Perri Furbert and Courtney Roberts promise to keep it “halfway bougie and all the way real.” Touching on all things pop culture, the two millennials mix personal stories with real-world problems, sparking reflection, and lots of head nods.

17. Jemele Hill Is Unbothered 

Award-winning journalist and culture critic Jemele Hill interviews the most compelling figures in news, pop culture, politics, and sports. Expect unbothered and unfiltered conversations.

18. Happy Black Woman Podcast

If you’re an ambitious black woman who wants to have her cake and eat it too, this is the podcast for you. Host Rosetta Thurman empowers women to have it all in this personal development podcast through interviews with powerful black women who’ve created lives of happiness and freedom for themselves.

19. The Minority Trailblazer 

This podcast is dedicated to minorities who are blazing a trail in a variety of industries such as education, business, comedy, entrepreneurship, etc.

20. H.E.R. Space: Uplifting Conversations for The Black Woman

The H.E.R. in H.E.R space stands for healing, empowerment, and resilience. In this podcast, hosts Terri Lomax and Dr. Dominique Broussard are the catalysts for meaningful conversations, discussing everything from “fibroids to fake friends.”

21. Therapy for Black Girls

As a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., provides a weekly share session on all things mental health and personal development. Dr. Bradford touches on the latest mental health news and trends, as well as provides practical tips and answering listener questions.

22. Introverted Black Girl Podcast

This podcast touches on society’s biases and pop culture in a relatable way. The host of the Introverted Black Girl Podcast, who is set to reveal her identity this spring, shares stories of her day-to-day experiences as a black introverted girl in a world that seems to be rigged for extroverts.

23. Jesus & Jollof

Hosted by Luvvie Ajayi and Yvonne Oriji, this lifestyle podcast is a random mix of talk on life happenings, success, food, and all things the hosts love. In a nutshell, it’s two Nigerian goddesses chatting it up for listener entertainment.

24. Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations

This inspirational podcast’s aim is to assist listeners to “awaken, discover, and connect” to the world around them. Oprah has personally chosen the audio of interviews she has conducted with some of the world’s top movers and shakers in an effort to guide all who listen to be the best version of themselves.

25. Woman Evolve

Join Sarah Jakes Roberts as she shares her take on the week’s top stories in news and entertainment

26. Everyday Black Men

Join Riker, R. Reed, and Armstead as they discuss topics from the viewpoints of three everyday black men. From the latest in pop culture to black thoughts and relationship problems, there is no topic too controversial.

27. Rants & Randomness

Luvvie Ajayi is known for being a NYT best-selling author and blogger at AwesomelyLuvvie.com, but she prefers to call herself a side-eye sorceress and professional troublemaker. In this hilarious podcast, Luvvie rants about society and all things pop culture. Her Jan. 7 episode entitled “Do Better: Social Media Etiquette” is a must-listen for all.

28. She’s Got Drive

This podcast, hosted by Shirley McAlpine (business consultant and executive coach) asks black women what empowers them. McAlpine strives to dive deeply into the source of guests’ success, finding how they overcame obstacles and pulling out tools and strategies that listeners can apply.

29. The Glow Up Podcast

This podcast hosted by Lené Hypolite is the success antidote for women. The Glow Up Podcast shares stories and takeaways to assist listeners to glow up in their career, finances, and personal life.

30. Side Hustle Pro

This entrepreneurship podcast hosted by Nicaila Matthews Okome shines the spotlight on black females who have scaled their side hustles to profitable, established businesses in an effort to assist listeners to learn actionable strategies they can apply in the infancy stages of their business.

31. Spiritpreneur School: Spiritual Business for Entrepreneurs

The host of this podcast, Abiola Abrams, is an empowerment superstar and author whose mission is to assist heart-based entrepreneurs to succeed. She touches on all things law-of-attraction and healing to build soul-fulfilled, thriving businesses.

33. The Broomstick Podcast

The Broomstick Podcast hosted by Natalie Edwards shares all things weddings and marriages for women of color. If you’re getting married soon, or feel the time is near, this is a great listen to get you prepped for your walk down the aisle.

34. Hella Black Podcast

Hella Black the podcast is brought to you by Delency Parham and Blake Simons. With each episode, they hope to educate and inform their listeners on all things related to Blackness.

35. The Culture Soup Podcast

The Culture Soup Podcast is where tech, culture, and business collide. Each episode, L. Michelle Smith interviews foremost and emerging thought leaders in the space, with topics driven by hot conversations on social media.

 

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