Tracy Hopkins

Whether you’re island-hopping, flying to Latin America, or driving to Mobile or the Big Easy, get ready for an unforgettable celebration.
Carnival season typically falls between Epiphany on January 6 (also called Three Kings Day) and Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French). It's an indulgent time to eat, drink and be merry before Lent — the Christian period of fasting and spiritual reflection — begins on Ash Wednesday. We’re talking ornate feathered headdresses, eye-catching and often barely there...

Puerto Ricans are proud of and passionate about their culture, which blends indigenous, Spanish and African traditions. You can taste the melting pot of influences in dishes like mofongo and arroz con gandules. You can hear it in the music, from bomba to reggaeton.
On previous excursions to this balmy Caribbean island and U.S. territory, I hiked through the El Yunque rainforest; toured the colorful, cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan; and snapped Instagram-worthy photos of the street art mu...

The holiday season is hectic. So after you’ve made your shopping list and checked it twice (you know exactly who has been naughty or nice), spend time either virtually or in-person with family and friends, treat yourself and wind down your holiday season with a self-care staycation or festive getaway to one of these five urban chic hotels.
Eaton DC (Washington, D.C.)
Pack a weekend bag and head to the nation’s capital for a creative and sensorial stay at Eaton DC. More than a hotel, Eaton DC ...

’Tis the season to mix and mingle and enjoy. Check out these holiday events happening in great destinations or in your area.
From over-the-top Christmas light displays and holiday markets to ice-skating, dance performances and Kwanzaa celebrations, here’s a snapshot of 10 festive winter wonderland events happening in cities across the country. Enjoy them with family and friends or solo (don’t shy away from taking yourself on a merry little Christmas date). Check local listings to find more ho...

Pour some hot cocoa and cozy up with new Christmas and Kwanzaa TV movies full of music, faith, romance, drama and cheer.
Do you need a little Christmas, like right this very minute? For an instant spirit booster, turn on your TV or tablet and escape into the winter wonderland of jolly and heart-tugging holiday movies. For your viewing pleasure, we’ve outlined where to tune in and stream films full of music, romance, family drama, laughs and even a sexy Santa, all featuring strong, smart and s...

Something magical happens when a sister yells, ‘Action!’ Check out these films featuring Whoopi, Ledisi, Phylicia Rashad, VP Kamala Harris and others.
Till
(In theaters and on demand on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Vudu)
Because of Mamie Till-Mobley’s bravery, we will never forget her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till. Based on a false claim from a white woman, the bright-eyed teen was kidnapped and brutally murdered by a lynch mob of white men in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. Dire...

Alumni
Howard University alumna Maia Miller thrives on building creative community and producing stories rooted in excellence, consideration, and accountability.
Being a supportive and take-charge team player comes naturally to Maia Miller (BA ’14), and the collaborative process is what attracted her to becoming a film producer.
“You’re in the trenches for a short amount of time, and you are working for one common goal,” Miller explains. “I really love see[ing] how things come together, witne...

BET stars David and Tamela Mann talk about patience, prayer, partnership, making peace with our bodies — and the power of a great pair of leggings.
We know and love the Manns from their respective roles as the quirky Leroy Brown and his sweetheart daughter, Cora, from the Tyler Perry stage play, movie and sitcom Meet the Browns, and from starring in the BET+ holiday film Soul Santa and the current BET series Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living. Together the native Texans are a dynamic duo who got t...

The anticipated encore to the blockbuster bestseller, ‘Becoming,’ does not disappoint. With ‘The Light We Carry,’ our forever First Lady is a beacon of hope and healing.

Subscribers delighted in the items we handpicked or created to fit the season’s ‘Gathering With Grace’ theme. Plus, they had a good time connecting in our L&L Facebook group.

Black women are turning to this traditional practice to support weight loss and as a complementary treatment for anxiety, hot flashes, fibroids, diabetes and pain.

It’s common to feel anxious or worried about work, money, health, relationship and family matters. For Black folks, racism and discriminatory treatment add to our anxiety.

But if intense feelings of dread and fear cloud everyday situations and are hard to shake, you may have an anxiety disorder. Related symptoms include difficulty ...

As youngsters, my brother, Gregory, and I went to the Apollo Theater in Harlem to watch tap greats like Teddy Hale, Bunny Briggs, the Step Brothers and Coles & Atkins. Most of those guys would come on the stage and just tap. They were making it up as they went along, and that’s what made them so exciting to watch. Later in our career, we paid homage to those legendary hoofers in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club.
Greg was my younger brother, and we started tapping together as the Hines K...

You might not want to even pull out of your driveway without item No. 7, sis.
Fall is calling. The leaves are turning, and the crisp, cool temps are perfect sweater weather. So we know you just can’t wait to get on the road again — with Sisters From AARP’s car-ready “On the Move” playlist, cued to sing-along jams by Beyoncé, Lizzo, Ari Lennox, Pebbles and other songbirds we love.
But before you start your engine for your daily work commute, a weekend getaway or a longer road trip, do an inven...

Don’t wait for a sudden illness (or symptoms from hell) to consider the value of having these items handy.
Sis, let’s do a little reality check around how prepared we really are to treat routine illnesses or injuries. Go grab that blue-and-aqua jar of vaporizing chest rub. Yup, the remedy relied on by generations of Black mammas that’s still a comfort to us now that we’re grown. Next, turn it around and check the expiration date. We good? Now, let’s talk about how to take better care of ourse...

These routines can take as little as 20 seconds. But they can boost memory, weight loss, sex drive, sleep quality and more.
Can a habit or one-off task that takes less than five minutes really make a life-altering difference in your health? You already know the answer is yes if you stop to think about it. There’s a simple action you’re already taking daily that might add years to your life. It’s handwashing to prevent the spread of disease.
But that’s only one mini time investment that pays h...

New daytime talk shows hosted by Jennifer Hudson and Sherri Shepherd; Viola Davis bossing up as ‘The Woman King’; Angela Bassett’s regal return in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ and more.
Mark your calendars, plan your healthy snacks and get ready to support these strong Black female leads.
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Sept. 12)
J-Hud could sing the phone book and we’d be happy. Now the dynamic EGOT (she’s won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards) will dazzle us daily with a new talk show. The...