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INTO •

Reflections and lessons learned from queer influencers creating safe spaces online

While it may seem like social media is frivolous and full of constant comparisons, content creators are using their digital platforms to foster community and carve out safe spaces. From beauty tips and introspective healing to showing how to live one’s best life and fully embody “kunt,” content creators like Tarek Ali, Shaqori Morris and Uniekue are sharing their gifts with the world. Doing more than influencing viewers to buy products, these creators offer possibility models to future generatio
The 19th •

The 19th’s fellows pay tribute to the artistic HBCU alumni who inspire them

This Black History Month, we’re telling the untold stories of women, women of color and LGBTQ+ people. Subscribe to our daily newsletter.

As proud graduates of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), our Frances Ellen Watkins Harper fellows are taking advantage of this year’s Black History Month theme — African Americans and the Arts — to spotlight HBCU alumni who inspire them.

These journalists, artists and actors have left a mark on the culture, and on the current and former stu
Teen Vogue •

Black Writers Share Their Favorite Books to Honor Black History Month

This story was first published by The 19th. This Black History Month, they're telling the untold stories of women, women of color and LGBTQ+ people. Subscribe to their daily newsletter.

This year’s Black History Month theme, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is “African Americans and The Arts.” Black Americans have made significant contributions to creative mediums such as dance, art, literature and more, but many of these additions have gone unrecogn
The 19th •

‘Remember to take up space’: What Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s legacy means to our fellows

This Black History Month, we’re telling the untold stories of women, women of color and LGBTQ+ people. Subscribe to our daily newsletter.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper — considered the mother of African American journalism — died on this date 113 years ago at the age of 85. Harper’s legacy lives on through the writing she left behind and her inspiring lifelong pursuit of civil rights, justice and freedom for all.

The 19th’s HBCU fellowship program is named in her honor. This year, three of the
The 19th •

The year in stories: Why we write — and the stories that drove us in 2023

We’re reflecting on what The 19th was able to accomplish this year with your support. We want to continue to be there for you in 2024 as we report on the critical moments that shape our democracy and our lives. Donate today.

For readers, for community, for the underdog.

At The 19th, the intent and impact of our journalism has not gone without thought even as 2023 flew by. We asked our reporters to reflect on the importance of journalism, their most impactful stories and to reflect on one simpl
The 19th •

Unpacking The Origins of Spotify Wrapped

Multidisciplinary visual artist and educator Jewel Ham said she created the interactive iteration and social media trend of Spotify’s Wrapped we know today, but three years after taking her story public, she has yet to be formally recognized by the company for her part in its hit phenomenon.

Originally released by Spotify as a microsite in 2016, the feature shows users all of their music metrics and favorite artists of the given year. But in 2019 Wrapped was reimagined into an immersive in-app experience that was easily shareable to social media, garnering engagement from 120 million users in 2021 and 68.8 billion views on Tiktok as of this year.
INTO •

How chaotic creativity fueled Raquel Willis to write her new memoir

What is the power of storytelling? How do our personal narratives affect the broader landscape of the communities we’re a part of? Of the nation we live in?

In the first six months of the 2022-23 school year, Pen America reported over 1,400 banned books, barring students’ access to the knowledge inside books like George M Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, and many more titles, with 30% of titles about race and racism and 26% with LGBTQ+ characters or themes. And y
INTO •

Viral Sensation Kalen Allen Reaches New Heights in Media and Expands His Career in the Digital Age

*This interview was conducted prior to the start of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike

First discovered in 2018 for his viral food reaction videos, media personality Kalen Allen has garnered millions of followers online through his infectious energy and witty personality. Now, stepping away from his ring lights and into the spotlight on sets like Prime Video’s rom-com series With Love, Allen is paving his own pathway to success and leaving his mark in the digital age.

Model D awarded and Shorty Awar
INTO •

Memphis Murphy Talks Beyoncé x Balmain ‘Renaissance’ Couture, Representation in Modeling, and Turning Your Dreams Into Reality

It isn’t often that high end fashion is associated with Blackness or being LGBTQ+, but Black trans model and DJ Memphis Murphy is showing that not only can the two coexist: they can be synonymous. Featured in the history-making Beyoncé x Balmain Renaissance Couture Vogue cover as the first ever wearable album, Murphy is creating history, breaking barriers, and proving to those coming after her that, despite their identities, they can make their dreams a reality too.

For the 22-year-old model, a
Queerty* •

Author and advocate Raquel Willis is blazing a path for the LGBTQ+ community by telling her story

If effortless beauty, grace and all around boss energy was wrapped up into one person, Raquel Willis would be that girl.

Between gracing fashion events with Gucci, executive producing and hosting on iHeartMedia, readying the launch of her new memoir, and providing us with a voice of reason on Twitter, Willis has done it all in the last year. Through her award-winning advocacy for the transgender community, Willis continues to be a flower in bloom, sparking change within the hearts of many and r
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

The Power of Black Creatives: Jacob Bellevue is a Multi-Hyphenate Creative Working for Change

In a world that often pushes dreamers to have one aspiration and muse, Howard University television and film sophomore Jacob Bellevue is trailblazing his own path to success. As a model, director, content creator and more, Bellevue is working to show the world not only how limitless he is but offer an authentic reflection for marginalized communities through film and media.

Born to two Haitian immigrants who settled in the creative enclave of Montclair, New Jersey, Bellevue grew up in the compa
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

A ‘Behind-the-Seams’ Look: Howard’s Springfest Fashion Show

This year, Howard’s annual Springfest fashion show is inspired by this year’s Springfest theme, “Renaissance.” The Golden Age fashion show aims to take viewers through a day in Harlem, immersing the attendees into the bustling Black culture of the era through fashion.

The month of April on Howard University’s campus is known for many things – day parties, graduation prep, and more – but while the season is one of excitement and anticipation, the Springfest fashion show has long been one to take
INTO •

Bay Davis on the Humanity of Her Art, Forming Her Voice, and Building Community Through Poetry

And my God how grateful I am for the sweetest days

All seeped in truth that somehow managed to blend into each other like they do

Love that calls you by name

I used to swear one day I’ll make it home

And she has

Blending poetry, content creation, and advocacy all into one isn’t easy, but poet and creative Bay Davis makes the work of artistry in the digital age look effortless. Utilizing platforms like Instagram and TikTok to share spoken word and her life, Davis is blazing a path forward fo
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

The Power of Black Creatives: Kynadi Hyde on Transforming Fashion Through Journalism

When the phrase, “Black in fashion” is said, what comes to mind are designers like Laquan Smith and fashion houses like Luar, but to be Black in the fashion industry isn’t exclusive to designers. Kynadi Hyde, fashion journalist, digital creator and senior broadcast journalism major, is seeking to transform the fashion industry through the power of storytelling.

As a true child of the 2000s, Hyde grew up watching Disney Channel and shows like “Hannah Montana” and “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
INTO •

Sis is Cementing Herself As One of Theater’s Greatest Up and Coming Stars

Imposter syndrome normally comes for us all on our journeys of becoming and in moments of opportunity. However, for actress and musical theater talent Sis, her headspace has been far from that of pretender. Joining legends like Angelica Ross and Laverne Cox, Sis is using her career as the first openly Black transgender woman to lead a Broadway national tour to cement herself not just as a trans artist, but simply as herself.

As Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma made its final stops on tour, th
INTO •

Changemaker Sage Dolan-Sandrino on Her Story of Becoming and “Growing Up”

Neither white nor black, but ambiguously gray, our stories of becoming are as complex and multifaceted as the world around us. Twisting through trauma and moments of sadness before intertwining with unexpected beauty and blossoming jubilation, growing up continues to be a thing of wonder. 21-year-old Afro-Cuban trans creative and changemaker, Sage Dolan-Sandrino, understands these notions all too well.

Known as the first trans youth writer at Teen Vogue, and previously as an ambassador for The
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

Tahir Murray Continues His Legacy with Nordstrom Collaboration

From legends like André Leon Talley to innovators like Anifa Mvuemba, HBCUs have long modeled the minds of designers, fashion architects and creatives alike. Tahir Murray, Howard University graduate and CEO of HBCU apparel brand Legacy History Pride, continues this legacy in a first-ever pop-up shop in collaboration with Nordstrom.

Selling clothing from Howard to Hampton, Murray’s brand has quickly become a one-stop shop for HBCU students seeking apparel to show off their school spirit. This lo
GLAAD •

These Black Women Got Their Flowers at the 2022 Emmys

With critically acclaimed actors like Angel aBassett, Seth Rogan, and Oscar award-winner Ariana DeBose attending the 2022 Emmy's, the guest list alone was enough to garner public attention. But with historic wins by long-time artist Sheryl Lee Ralph, Hollywood newcomer Quinta Brunson, and more, Black women undoubtedly became the true stars of the evening.

From the list of accolades for actresses like Pam Grier to star-studded careers for actresses such as Cicely Tyson, Black women have been no
GLAAD •

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Album is Blacker and Queerer than Ever

Since her first solo album Dangerously In Love, the world-renowned superstar and proclaimed Queen Bey, Beyoncé, has been known to cause a social stir with the release of a project. From older works like I Am…Sasha Fierce and self-titled Beyoncé, to newer albums Lemonade and The Lion King: The Gift, the creative maven has constantly captivated the world with her work causing us all to tune in, and her seventh studio album Renaissance has been no different.

Since its release a month ago, the albu
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

Smithsonian Museum to Celebrate Hip-hop and Rap with Inaugural Block Party

In celebration of the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is set to host an inaugural Hip-Hop Block Party on Saturday, August. 13 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Block Party will include local talent, acclaimed national lyricists, and activities centered around hip-hop culture and its origins.

The event will host performances by Vic Jagger and Mumu Fresh, two DMV natives turned artists, a panel-led discussion on hip-hop, and
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

The Power of Black Creatives: Maiz Lawson and The Power of His Perspective

15-time published photographer Maiz Lawson, a senior TV and film major studying at Howard University, wants the world to see the power of his creativity and the uniqueness of his perspective. Through his art, Lawson aims to show the beauty of the Black community through authentic photographic storytelling.

While many creatives find that they have always been artistically inclined, that is not the case for all. Born and raised in rainy Seattle, Washington, Lawson, a bright-eyed creative extrover
The Hilltop - The Nation's Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper •

The Power of Black Creatives: ‘My Black Art is Inexorable’

Howard poet Colonel-Joshua Higgins, a junior marketing major who goes by the pen name jaziyyah, uses his poems to express his own intersectional individualism and evoke introspective emotion in the hearts of many.

While finding comfort and expression in drawing and poetic journaling, jaziyyah didn’t always know he was considered a creative. It was through the help of his mother and a book she gave him, that he stumbled upon his gift.

“I started writing when I was 11 years old. The way I was in
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