While sitting down with Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Halle Berry talked openly and honestly about everything from growing up biracial and raising biracial children to her thoughts on activism and Black Lives Matter. But one topic from the conversation that stood out was hearing Berry’s thoughts on the progress Hollywood has or hasn’t made in terms of diversity since she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002.

More than 15 years since her win, Berry remains the only Black woman to take home that award, and when she thinks about that, along with the recent #OscarsSoWhite drama from 2015, 2016, Berry gets sad. And a little pissed off.

“It’s troubling to say the least,” she said to Welteroth. “And a few years ago, when we had the Oscars and there was a complete blackout for us, it was one of my lowest professional moments.”

According to the 50-year-old star, when she gave her moving speech after her history-making win for Monster’s Ball, it wasn’t something she had prepared. The desire for more inclusion when it comes to the roles being offered was on her mind when she said her win was “for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.” There have indeed been more chances, as just this year alone, Viola Davis won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Fences, Ruth Negga was nominated for Best Actress for Loving and Octavia Spencer and Naomie Harris were given Best Supporting Actress nominations as well for Hidden Figures and Moonlight. Not to mention that quite a few men of color, including Mahershala Ali, director Barry Jenkins and Denzel Washington, either won or were nominated for an Academy Award in 2017. But for Berry, there could be and should be more chances every year.

“I sat there and I remember that speech and I remember how I don’t even know where that speech came from because I didn’t have a speech,” she said. “I was pretty sure Sissy Spacek was going to win. That just was what was ruminating in my spirit.  So two Oscars ago when we had that blackout, I sat there and I thought, ‘Wow, that moment really meant nothing. That meant nothing! I thought it meant something but I think that meant nothing.’ I was profoundly hurt by that and saddened by that.”

But she’s not just going to sit around and kick up a fuss about it. The actress said she’s now motivated and has also started to make the opportunities that she wants to see — for herself and others.

“It inspired me to try to get involved in other ways, which is why I want to start directing. I want to start producing more. I want to start being a part of making more opportunities for people of color,” Berry said. “I have conversation more deeply with Academy members in trying to figure out how to help and add more diversity into the Academy, this group which chooses who wins every year.  These kinds of groups have to start changing and we have to start becoming more conscious and more inclusive. And I think Black people, people of color, only have a chance to win based on how much product we’re allowed to put out. That says to me we need more people of color writing, directing, producing — not just starring. We have to start telling stories that include us, and if stories don’t include us, we have to start asking ‘Why can’t that be a person of color? Why can’t that White male character be a Black woman?’ We have to start pushing the envelope and ask these questions.”

The post Halle Says Her Oscar Win “Meant Nothing” Based On Roles People Of Color Still Aren’t Getting appeared first on MadameNoire.

Actress Gabourey Sidibe recently stated that after having bariatric surgery and losing a great deal of weight, she started receiving all sorts of compliments from people, and she wasn’t really comfortable with it. As she told Refinery29, “My body actually has nothing to do with you. I don’t really need your support for it. It seems ill-placed.”

She’s not the only woman to go through a weight-loss transformation and be unsettled by the sucrose-sweet things people have said to her only after dropping the pounds. Queen of TV Shonda Rhimes revealed that people have started treating her in a way that makes her feel as though she came into her own solely after losing weight — which she knows isn’t true.

“Women I barely knew gushed. And I mean GUSHED. Like I was holding-a-new-baby-gushed,” the 47-year-old Scandal creator wrote in her new Shondaland newsletter. “Only there was no new baby. It was just me. In a dress. With makeup on and my hair all did, yes. But…still the same me. In one of my same dresses (cause why am I gonna buy a NEW dress when I can take this to a seamstress and she can just make it smaller? Who am I, The Crown? No, I’m from the Midwest, baby, and I come with coupons). Women gushed anyway. And men? They spoke to me. THEY SPOKE TO ME. Like stood still and had long conversations with me about things. It was disconcerting. But even more disconcerting was that all these people suddenly felt completely comfortable talking to me about my body. Telling me I looked ‘pretty’ or that they were ‘proud of me’ or that ‘wow, you are so hot now’ or ‘you look amazing!'”

Yes, Rhimes lost nearly 150 pounds, and that’s amazing. But the attention paid to her body, according to her, has been a bit too much.

“I discovered that people found me valuable,” she said. “Worthy of conversation. A person one could look at. A person one could compliment. A person one could admire.”

“You heard me. I discovered that NOW people saw me as a PERSON,” she added. “What the hell did they see me as before? How invisible was I to them then? How hard did they work to avoid me? What words did they use to describe me? What value did they put on my presence at a party, a lunch, a discussion? When I was fat, I wasn’t a PERSON to these people. Like I had been an Invisible Woman who suddenly materialized in front of them. Poof! There I am. Thin and ready for a chat.”

But as Rhimes would go on to say, “being thinner doesn’t make you a different person. It just makes you thinner.”

This isn’t the first time Rhimes has spoken about people who treat her differently since slimming down. As she told Variety in 2015 while promoting her book, The Year of Yes, while she feels better since going on her weight-loss journey years ago, she still feels like and is the woman she’s always been.

“That has been a fascinating journey to watch other people deal with,” Rhimes said. “To me it’s just the outward example of everything else. You’re still exactly the same person, but to other people, it’s this huge thing that is very big for them. But for me, it’s the same thing. Except maybe I have a ton more energy.”

The post “When I Was Fat, I Wasn’t A Person”: Shonda Rhimes Didn’t Like Being “Gushed” Over After Losing 150 Pounds appeared first on MadameNoire.

Rihanna couldn’t handle a strong black king ....

— Andrew (@C_obain47) June 27, 2017

Rihanna choosing to date a non black man is detrimental to young black men across the world. She singlehandedly ruined their self-esteem.

— ️ (@Med2Cold) June 27, 2017

Black men reacting to finding out Rihanna's dating a white guy pic.twitter.com/NNXeql8735

— malcolm young (@yiggityyoung) June 28, 2017

Rihanna is out here dating white men. She's cancelled. ♂️ your fav artist is a self hater and problematic pic.twitter.com/UoA1LSGUe8

— Big Baller Brand VP (@Krieg_La_Flare) June 27, 2017

This all Chris Brown fault, fucked it up for the sane black men out there and now Rihanna messing with Fez from "That 70's show"

— bigmike (@mikeLowKey) June 27, 2017

Rihanna don't appreciate faithful black men? Smdh

— Tay (@NichyTay) June 27, 2017

The last black king nearly killed her.. let's not forget

— Kryse (@iKryse) June 27, 2017

Y'all can't swim. https://t.co/AlxykWBSut

— XX (@StassDoll) June 27, 2017

Black Men: *drag black woman everyday*

*rihanna gets a white man* Black men: pic.twitter.com/z94gUZyIDT — Gina (@ActuallyGina) June 27, 2017

Rihanna has NEVER publicly or behind closed doors attack or belittle Black men while only uplifting white men. Sit down. https://t.co/ww7CkumIbn

— Ᏸecca (@MJStarLover) June 27, 2017

"Rihanna’s new lover is Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel. His family own one of the biggest companies in the world." The Sun pic.twitter.com/4gXWuOLZtM

— Rihanna Diva (@RihannaDiva) June 28, 2017

Hassan jameel is fine as hell and wealthy pic.twitter.com/4VN1QbfTTg

— kierra (@selfishfenty) June 28, 2017

The way my baby ended ISLAMOPHOBIA . Hassan jameel is her new man!!!!!! #RihannaHasAManParty pic.twitter.com/eVjfuwjiVl

— Shantanu Singhal (@legendaRIHFENTY) June 28, 2017

#RihannaHasAManParty pic.twitter.com/KjEr5Ept9X

— B L O O M (@TrulyCrystal_) June 27, 2017

The post Black Men Were Big Mad When They Thought Rihanna Was Dating A White Man appeared first on MadameNoire.

This year the Black American buying power is expected to reach a whopping $1.3 trillion. With a figure like that you may ask yourself, why do most Black-owned companies seek to appeal to a broader base? According to branding and PR expert Karen Taylor Bass, CEO of TaylorMade Media, the answer is pretty simple: “It is the ultimate goal of an entrepreneur to increase their market share.”

“Black companies should absolutely outreach to the general marketplace to grow their business and brands,” she stated. “However, understanding and appreciating their core customer is rule number one.”

Looking beyond a niche market is actually a smart business move, said Jacqueline Rhinehart, founder of Organic Soul Marketing. But expanding to the general market also has to be done in a smart way. “Black-owned and serviced products should include a mainstream campaign when their products organically reach that audience — but never at the expense, literally or figuratively, of their initial core audience. The ‘reach’ should not be manufactured (by altering the brand or the product), or sought in a way that besmirches the original customer base.”

But not all Black companies know how to expand their base without leaving behind or insulting their core customer. This was the unfortunate situation the makers of SheaMoisture found themselves in earlier this year with they launched their “Hair hate” campaign which all Black women hated due to its attempt to equate white women’s hair issues with our own.

It had long been of dream of Sundial, the makers of SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage, to reach a bigger market. Back in 2015 the CEO of Sundial talked of expansion with MadameNoire. “As a kid growing up, one of the brands I thought was tremendous was Karl Kani…and I don’t see Karl Kani today. I want to see SheaMoisture tomorrow,” declared Richelieu Dennis. “Once a company develops out of its consumer base you will often see a well-funded multinational company come in and take over that space. The Black-owned company either stays a niche company or just disappears. This is something we don’t want to happen…Now with this investment, it allows us to make moves that will keep this company in the family for another four generations and beyond. My goal is to have my children take over and their children and so on.”

Unfortunately, the most recent misstep by Sundial, valued at $700 million with annual revenues of about $200 million, wasn’t their only one. “SheaMoisture began market expansion back in 2015 and this is not the first controversy perpetuated by that decision. In February 2015, they faced a public backlash for featuring a Caucasian baby in its ads. That lesson should have been considered in future marketing strategy,” said Linda F. Williams, COO and founder Whose Apple Dynamic Coaching Services. “The company ignored lessons learned.”

Besides learning from failed promotions, companies should also learn from their core consumer. “No matter who owns a company, if and when they deem it time to broaden their target market, they should listen,” explained Thembisa S. Mshaka, award-winning advertising campaign writer and author of Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your [entertainment] Business. “Listen to their core market or make sure their communication doesn’t convey that they are being abandoned. Listen as they select agencies of record, to make sure they understand the nuances of making the choice to expand before they retain them to create and deliver a campaign.

“This is not ‘a Black thing,’ she added. “This is a business thing. We saw it with SheaMoisture and Pepsi’s Kylie Jenner ad. We saw it with Starbucks when they tried to discuss race with their ‘Race Together’ initiative. It is tone deafness that stems from ignorance, ego, isolated conversations that lack diversity of thought, an inability to listen before taking action, or some combination of all of the above.”

While Williams pointed out “Market expansion is fundamental in order for a company to thrive and remain relevant, she said companies should be more mindful of the old adage, ‘It’s now what you do. It’s how you do it.'”

The key is to be inclusive, Rhinehart added. “A great example of an advertising campaign/product integration activation, is the Carol’s Daughter ‘Mother/Daughter Makeover’ which included white women. Their TV spot included first the Black and POC (people of color) models and ended with one white model.”

There’s also an order companies need to follow when attempting to broaden their base and the first step is making sure their core audience is always remembered, recognized, and involved. “Key stakeholders must always think about the following: what is the brand? who is the target audience? how can we grow the niche and not offend our core consumers? As a Black woman entrepreneur and public relations expert, I am extremely thorough and thoughtful with the language and visuals used to promote a brand/business regardless of color/gender. I always ask for a seat at the table to brainstorm with the marketing team as it relates to the messaging of the product,” Taylor explained. “I over-stand that companies like SheaMoisture want to broaden their base, however, it is imperative that Black and brown marketers are involved in key decision-making as it relates to tier 1 branding, messaging and storytelling. No one understands the sensitivity of hair, skin, history like someone who has lived it first hand. A general market agency dropped the ball on that campaign and alienated the core base of Black women.”

The second step is to remember customers are only as loyal to you as you are to them.“Customer loyalty is an area in which SheaMoisture miserably failed,” noted Williams. “It led to what appears to be a mass exit by their core customers. Market expansion is achievable by developing a well-designed strategy that maintains company loyalty to its customers without appearing to abandon them in the process.”

Third, the expansion market strategy needs to be phased in.”In the case of SheaMoisture, a branding strategy should have been devised to diversify the product line to include products for different hair types. Even among women of color, textures differ. This expansion of the product line would have formed a transitional foundation for the market shift without alienating the customers who contributed to the company’s success,” Williams explained.

The bottom line is when consumers emotionally connect to products and companies, business is no longer just business, it’s personal. And no one likes to pushed aside for someone else.

The post Want To Expand Your Business Beyond Black Consumers? Don’t Forget Loyal Customers appeared first on MadameNoire.

So um, this topic is a bit strange but it is a thing…for Black women so I feel this is the place to talk about it.

Yesterday, I noticed that my sister retweeted this:

RT this if you’re a black girl with this scar on your knee…trying to see something. pic.twitter.com/HsYkPP0vx2

— Hoesaphine Baker (@jadoreadjones) June 27, 2017

When I saw it, I didn’t think much of it. As a child, my sister, the “wild” one of the family, who’s not really all that wild, always managed to find herself involved in some type of accident. There was the time she was rushed to the hospital after she flew off the tire swing and we thought she’d broken her leg. There was the time she was scratched petting a “stray” cat in the neighborhood, the time she broke her hymen climbing the ladder to our bunk bed. (I can still hear that blood curdling scream.)

And then there was the accident that resulted in the scar on her knee. From what I can remember, we were in middle school. She was inside for a recreation period because it was apparently raining outside, where her class would have been had weather permitted. Inside, there just so happened to be a treadmill. My sister was running on it and then slipped, skinning both of her knees in the process.

I remember that even with almost daily applications of Coco Butter, it took forever for the skin to grow back, let alone for it to begin scarring. And when it finally did scar, the mark remained, dark at first and then fading slightly. But like I said, in my mind, my sister was just more clumsy than most people. Even today.

What I didn’t notice was the number of retweets, likes and comments the original status received.

26,000 retweets.
17,000 likes.
622 comments.

Black women were astonished to look down at their own knees and find that they, like Logan Browning, also had a scar on their knee.

If you delve into the stories, many of these Black women, like my sister, will tell you that they acquired these scars when they were young.

If you hadn’t gathered from this introduction, I don’t have a scar on my knee. And now that I think about it, it’s something I’m very proud of. And while that’s nothing to be proud of at all, I know where the feeling originates.

My mother and my grandmother.

Growing up, both my mother and grandmother warned my sister and I about keeping our legs unscathed. If we wanted to have pretty, smooth legs when we grew up, we were not to scar them up as little girls because the scars would remain…forevah (in my Cardi B. voice.)

Even as a child, I recognized that my mom and grandma were more dramatic than they needed to be; still, I took their words to heart. I enjoy my fair share of outdoor activity and sport. I ran track in middle school, played volleyball in high school etc. But I was careful.

Now, that I think about it, it wasn’t just because of my foremothers’ words, I saw proof of their warnings manifest.

One day, running down our cul-de-sac to a friend’s house, I tripped or stumbled or something and my body, propelled by my own speed, went sliding across the concrete. The incident resulted in three different scars, one on my wrist, one above my elbow and a much smaller and less severe one on my leg. Not my knee mind you. I was probably around ten when I collected those scars. And today, at nearly 30-years-old, you can still see remnants of the ones on my wrist and above my elbow.

The skin is flush with my own but the marks from that day remain.

This is what my momma and ‘n’em were talking about. They knew from experience from their own rough and tumble years that these things don’t go away. I know my mother has a deep gash in a back from some type of incident with a glass table. And my grandmother, who died in her eighties had a body that also bore marks of her journey on this earth.

I lied. This is not just a Black thing. White kids were just a rough and tumble as we were growing up. They too have scars…I just don’t recall seeing any of them. Perhaps our scars stay around longer or show up more prevalently on our darker skin. I’m no dermatologist and I can’t call it.

BuzzFeed wrote about this story and the reaction it received. And in the comment section, one person argued about the importance or necessity of the story. Like what was the point and purpose. There isn’t a large, life-changing one, other than unification.

We all know that our scars tell stories. For me, I know they remind me that some of those childhood memories really did happen. (I don’t know about you but my childhood memories can seem like a land of fantasy and make believe sometimes.) But this picture, the tweet and the response to it, also can serve as yet another way to unite Black women across a variety of regions and experience. And that’s also pretty cool.

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and on Instagram and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post On Black Women With Childhood Scars On Their Knees appeared first on MadameNoire.

Toya Wright

Tameka "Tiny" Harris

Reginae Carter

Kenya Moore

Zonnique Pullins

Tammy Rivera

Cynthia Bailey

Rasheeda Frost

Karlie Redd

Mimi Faust

Towanda Braxton

Trina Braxton

Sheree Whitfield

Quad Webb-Lunceford

Adiz "Bambi" Benson

Jasmine Burke

Shirlene "Ms. Juicy" King Pearson

The post Check Out The Best & Boldest Fashion From The Bossip On WE Party In Atlanta appeared first on MadameNoire.

Old Navy Go-Dry Racerback Medium Support Sports Bra for Women ($9.97)

Faye Star Sequin Fray Hem Denim Shorts-$36

Unique Vintage 1950s High Waist Stars & Stripes Flag Swing Skirt-$78

This Is Me Living The Dream T-Shirt-$23.95

Stars and Stripes Baseball Cap-$9.90

Star Shape Face Jewels-$4.90

Bikini Lab Reversible Stars Stripes Swimsuit-$67

Studio One Twenty Stars Bodysuit-$103.20

Sequin USA Star Tank-$42

Maya Stars And Stripes Denim Skirt-$30

The post 12 Ways To Wear Your Love For The 4th appeared first on MadameNoire.

Kobe Bryant

Wanya Morris

Usher

Mase

Robert Smith

Quentin Richardson

Flo Rida

Terrence Jenkins

Ryan Press

The post Did Brandy Split From Her New Man? 9 Other Times She’s Tried Her Hand At Love appeared first on MadameNoire.

Image via Getty

Pastor Jamal Bryant’s private life has gotten him in all types of public trouble. His promiscuity ended his marriage, led to allegations that he impregnated a 17-year-old girl and, most recently, involved him in a custody and child support battle with Latoya Shawntee Odom, the mother of his youngest child.

In 2015, Odom sued Bryant demanding child support. Bryant acknowledged that the child was his and said that he had been paying child support, in an attempt to handle matters outside of court. But when Odom kept harassing him, he stopped making payments and left it up to a judge to decide.

Naturally, Odom took issue with the lack of support and found it particularly insulting that Bryant was living a life of luxury.

In November, the two reached a settlement. Odom was awarded primary physical custody and Bryant was given visitation. The amount of child support was sealed from the public but he was ordered to pay $13,500 in Odom’s legal expenses.

Last summer, I asked whether or not Pastor Bryant should take some time away from the pulpit to get his life back in order. Since that time, I really haven’t kept up with his whereabouts.

But last night, there was a bit of an update. According to The Jasmine Brand, Odom raised claims stating that Bryant had failed to pay child support on time, failed to provide medical and life insurance and failed to pay 75 percent of the uninsured medical expenses as he had been ordered to do.

As a result, she asked that Bryant be held in contempt of court.

Bryant responded pleading with the judge not to throw him in jail, saying he did not disobey the court order.

The judge found that he was in contempt, ruling that while Bryant did pay child support in a timely manner, he did not obtain medical and life insurance for his child and did not cover his portion of the uninsured medical expenses.

The judge ruled that Bryant pay $3,258.31 to purge himself of contempt.

The post Jamal Bryant Held In Contempt Of Court, Ordered To Pay Son’s Medical Bills appeared first on MadameNoire.

The post Eat Your Heart Out, Charlamagne: While You Were Sleeping, Lil Mama Had A Major Glo Up appeared first on MadameNoire.

Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com

The post Have Y’all Noticed Fantasia’s Been Slaying The ‘Gram Lately? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Images via WENN

I don’t know what I can say about the Kardashian family and their obsession and theft of Black culture that hasn’t already been said and said again. They imitate and emulate Black women’s features and most recently designs from their clothing lines and they attach themselves to Black men in order to get more shine and attention. They exploit Black pain to sell caffeinated beverages.

It’s all a hot mess.

Most of us have peeped game.

And just when you think they’ve done the worst that they’re going to do, something else happens that makes you wonder if they live their lives with the intent to troll Black folks.

I say that because the most recent stunt is just too unbelievable for words.

The Jenner sisters, Kylie and Kendall have transposed their images over two or our most beloved icons, fallen rappers Tupac and Biggie for their vintage t-shirt line.

Kendall and Kylie may have committed the worst fashion crime yet.https://t.co/vVJNzIcc61

— HYPEBEAST (@HYPEBEAST) June 28, 2017

For those who aren’t sure what’s going on here, that’s an Instagram picture of Kylie pasted over an image of Tupac. And another of Kendall dressed in a suit, over an image of Biggie.

Not only was it a bad idea to literally cover two of our favorites, I can’t understand the logic behind it.

How did that meeting go? Knowing the reputation they have in this industry, how does someone approve, let alone create an image where a White woman is pushed to the forefront at the expense of a Black man? Who heard that concept and thought brilliant?

Then the shirts are selling for $125.

As you might imagine, the reaction from both Black and White people was intense.

This shit is wild disrespectful and tacky https://t.co/T2ukBdnehu

— ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROAZ™ (@broazay) June 28, 2017

kendall jenner selling a shirt with her face overlayed on top of tupac is literally racism and i won’t stand for it

— Lauren Ablondi Olivo (@laurenablondi) June 28, 2017

If I see you wearing a Kendall+Kylie shirt with their faces on top of Biggie and Tupac… just know that I’m legally obligated to punch you.

— Sidra (@ByeGuys17) June 29, 2017

If you’re able to find the words, let us know what you make of all this.

The post Kendall And Kylie Jenner Catching Hell For Transposing Their Faces Over Biggie And Tupac appeared first on MadameNoire.

In May, popular company Thinx, known for its unconventional take on feminine hygiene products and protection, hipped us all to their newest offering — training shorts.

After the success of their period-proof underwear, they introduced the shorts, meant to help you continue to be active without the use of bulky pads and sometimes unreliable tampons during your period. The shorts are said to be capable of holding up to two tampons worth of blood in their built-in underwear, which have a unique four-layer technology meant to keep you dry and help you avoid leaks wherever you get your workout on at.

It sounds good, but do they work?

I actually had the chance to test a pair of the $65 shorts recently, and it was a very interesting experience. I wore the black bottoms on the third day of my seven-day period to the forest preserve near my parents’ home on a particularly hot day. With it being close to 90 degrees, I was skeptical about how the shorts would hold up in the heat and with all the sweat I knew I was going to work up during my run. I walked for about 10 minutes, taking in how I felt in the shorts and getting used to them before I finally took off running for about 40 minutes.

While the underwear inside of the shorts gave me no trouble, I have to admit that the shorts’ “body flattering cut” was a little too short for me. I wore a size large, and for the record, I’m almost 6’0″ tall. When I started running, I found myself feeling a bit underdressed because the legs of the shorts kept riding up. A majority of my thigh was exposed while running, and with it being a forest preserve with older men and women present, I felt like I was doing too much. Still, many running bottoms on the market are meant to be that short, and again, I’m tall, so that’s not a knock to Thinx.

Despite all of that, the shorts didn’t disappoint when it came down to what they were made to do — prevent leaking and keep you comfortable. The underwear’s four-layer technology kept me dry inside of the shorts, which is something you just don’t get with traditional cotton panties during any workout (on your period or not). With that being said, while I did bleed in the shorts, nothing ever came through or out, this even after I stopped running, drove to the store, walked around Wal Mart, got back in the car and headed home. I say all that to state that even with all of my different types of moving (sitting, standing, walking, running), I was protected. However, all bodies and flows are made different, so if you know you bleed very heavily (which I don’t past a certain point) for the entirety of your menstrual cycle, the company understands if you want to wear their products in conjunction with whatever feminine hygiene product you’re most comfortable with.

After my test of the shorts, I came to the conclusion that they do work, but would work best for me on days when I do strength training, stationary cardio machines or yoga. Call me prudish, but I just don’t want my long legs and thick thighs stopping traffic (or thirsty men) when all I’m trying to do is get in a jog. But just because they’re not my style in terms of cut doesn’t mean they won’t be perfect for others. Overall, they are very comfy and allow you the chance to not worry about what’s going on down there when you’re being active. And any peace of mind a woman can get during her period, not to mention freedom, is worth a try.

The post She Tried It! THINX’s New Period-Proof Training Shorts appeared first on MadameNoire.

Deux Lux Island Weekender-$39.99

Black And Coral Geometric Weekender Bag-$15.98

Float Your Boat Tan Weekender Bag-$49

Jessica Simpson Navy Freedom Weekender-$47.99

Roxy Havana Spirit Handbag-$34.99

Bueno of California Double Handle Weekend Bag-$44.97

Luv Betsey Cruisn Quilted Weekender-$34.99

Kipling Zaliki Duffel Tote-$49.99

Deux Lux XO Weekender-$43.50

The post 9 Bags Under $50 That Are Perfect For A Summer Weekend Getaway appeared first on MadameNoire.

Zoë Kravitz

Maya Rudolph

Debbie Allen

Phylicia Rashad

Janelle Monae

Ruth Negga

Naomie Harris

Wanda Sykes

Leslie Jones

What a Honor it was to Present @MeaganGood Good With an Award for Her Excellence in the Arts! pic.twitter.com/E2guQIKpUG

— Kim Hardin (@khardincasting) September 24, 2014

Kimberly Hardin

The post All The Black Women The Academy Added To Their Ranks appeared first on MadameNoire.

After the teaser gave us a pretty brief glimpse at what to expect in the next chapter of the saga of Issa, Molly, Lawrence (played by Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji and Jay Ellis) and co., an official trailer has been released today to give you a better idea at what you will see in Season 2. Get excited because the preview alone left us cackling.

In the two-minute clip we see Issa trying to return to the dating scene, begrudgingly. She wants Lawrence back, but as you’ll recall from the end of Season 1, we last saw him getting his rocks off with bank teller Tasha after leaving our protagonist for stepping out with old flame Daniel. So Issa is trying to put herself out there. She is going on dates, while at the same time, hoping that after giving Lawrence some space, they can pick up where they left off.

As for Molly, she looks to be having a little bit more luck at love the second time around, but not when it comes to work. Despite being one of the top lawyers at her firm, she finds out that a white male colleague at the same office and on a similar level gets paid more than her.

The dilemmas for both ladies are big, but per the usual, they are handled with a huge dose of hilarity. That includes Issa deciding to go through a “ho phase” to mutual friend Kelli trying to comfort Molly by telling her she shorts her White clients on their tax returns as a form of reparations. Comedy.

Check out the trailer below, and be sure to check out the premiere of Season 2 on July 23 at 10:30 p.m. (right after Ballers) on HBO.

The post Issa Is Single And Going Through A “Ho Phase” In Season 2 Of Insecure [Trailer] appeared first on MadameNoire.

Of all the sports bras I’ve bought over the last few years as I’ve gone through the ups and downs of my fitness journey (those ups and downs include cup sizes), I only use about three or four consistently. A majority of those are Nike bras. The reason for that is because they are usually the most heavy duty. They can take me through six-mile runs, hold me down in dance classes or provide just enough support but a lot of comfort when I’m in yoga. And no, they’re not the cheapest, but sometimes you have to pay more for great quality.

But guess what? You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg right now for a great Nike sports bra because a pretty awesome collection is currently on sale on Nike.com. A few of them are in my collection, so trust me when I say that they are must-haves. That includes maximum support bras, padded bras for a little less tight compression and light joints for less intense exercise or athleisure wear. Check out five of our favorites that you can currently get for a pretty good price.

Nike Rival Fade $57

A maximum support bra that usually costs more than $75, it’s perfect for running, HIIT training and team sports.

Nike Fierce $35

Great for medium-impact activities like cardio classes and cycling.

Nike Classic Padded Graphic Bra $35

A go-to for running, strength training and your everyday gym workout. The padding is removable if it’s not your thing.

Nike Indy Cool $40

A low-impact bra, this bra is just enough support without being restricting when you do yoga, Pilates and barre.

Nike Seamless $40

This low-impact option is seamless so it looks amazing under your tops (bye back fat) when you’re doing light training.

The post Some Of Nike’s Best Sports Bras Are On Sale! Here Are 5 Must-Haves appeared first on MadameNoire.

@PghLynne thanks for being awesome and for all you in Pgh #UssieSummerGames pic.twitter.com/P8ePGQZd2e

— CandiCastleberry (@Candi) June 25, 2017

Lord knows Twitter has had its fair share of struggles when it comes to issues of diversity. Most clear in my mind was the way George Zimmerman was allowed to terrorize the community, posting pictures of Trayvon Martin’s dead body, with no repercussions or the way Milo Yiannopoulos taunted Leslie Jones for weeks on end with no consequences.

But thankfully, they’ve recognized that something’s got to change.

And the company has hired Candi Castleberry-Singleton as the new vice president of diversity and inclusion for the social media company.

The hire is an attempt for Twitter’s workforce to better reflect its user demographics. And y’all the power and relevance of Black Twitter cannot be overstated.

Until Castleberry-Singleton was hired the position was occupied by White men.

Groundbreaking.

According to USA Today, Castleberry-Singleton comes to Twitter having occupied a similar position at Motorola and Sun Microsystems.

In regards to the new gig, Castleberry-Singleton said, “I’m so excited to join the team at Twitter to lead inclusion and diversity efforts for employees and the Twitter community. I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned to Twitter.”

With Twitter’s users being 28 percent Black and dominating so many of the internet’s conversations, we’re happy Candi is stepping into the party. She’s long overdue.

The post About Time: A Black Woman Is Heading Inclusion & Diversity At Twitter appeared first on MadameNoire.

I'm just a lil verklempt. Ain't nobody calling for Black men to be perfect. Just take responsibility for your shit.

— Veronica Wells (@VDubShrug) June 30, 2017

To witness Jay-Z do this--putting so many Black women at the center-- in such a public and profound manner is a step in the right direction.

— Veronica Wells (@VDubShrug) June 30, 2017

His momma, his wife, his daughter, his sister in law, Nina Simone, the Clark sisters, Sister Nancy

— Veronica Wells (@VDubShrug) June 30, 2017

Kill Jay-Z

Solange

It's going to be a long night for a lot of rappers.... Remember fellas, never go full #EricBenét. #themostinterestingmanonradio #future #jayz #444

A post shared by TheFreeStyleKing (@jmacglobal) on Jun 29, 2017 at 11:10pm PDT

Ciara

Beyoncé

Hey yo #Jayz! Just so ya know, I got the baddest girl in the world as my wife....like right now! ✌

— Eric Benét (@ebenet) June 30, 2017

The Story of O.J.

Smile

4:44

Family Feud

Legacy

The post Black Women Are The Catalyst For Jay-Z’s Growth On 4:44 appeared first on MadameNoire.

In this episode of Did Y’all See, we’re chatting about the hottest topics from the month of June. The Amber Rose picture that had Instagram in a tizzy. Our thoughts on the mistrial of Bill Cosby and Al Sharpton’s selfies.

We also discuss the father/daughter moment that went viral. And while it was sweet at first, eventually viewers started noticing that he treats his lighter skinned daughter a bit better than his darker complected daughter.

Plus, there’s a new segment called #WerkItWithTiffany.

Check it all out in the video above.

The post Did Y’all See? Amber Rose Bares All + Does This Father Favor His Lighter Skinned Daughter? appeared first on MadameNoire.