Tracy Hopkins

The Memphis-based ballet company and conservatory has become one of the city’s cultural anchors in just over a decade, after humble beginnings teaching in a church basement. Now, it has a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, and a mission to diversify the ballet pipeline.
The first official Collage Dance Collective class had one student, and was taught in the basement of a Methodist church.
Now, just over a decade later, the Memphis-based ballet company and conservatory is teaching 250 stude...

Even though we may not sing together under one roof and pass the peace, those who celebrate Easter can still find fellowship virtually. Get your church hat ready!
Cases of COVID-19 are still high and the virus continues to disproportionately affect communities of color. To stay safe, the CDC maintains we should avoid gathering with folks we don’t live with. Although some houses of worship have put a cap on attendance and practice social distancing, virtual-only activities, events and gatherin...

Keep your head to the sky and push play on ‘Sisters’ mix of 22 soul-stirring songs from some of your favorite gospel, pop and R&B artists.
Are you looking for a miracle, as the Clark Sisters inquire in the inspirational song, “Miracle – Remix?” Then, open your mind and expect wonderful things with your whole heart. We can’t think of a better way to lift the spirit than a music mix that stirs the soul!
Keep your head to the sky and push play on Sisters’ praise-and-worship-filled playlist of 22...

Aretha, Nina, Grace and others broke barriers as they cut albums. We’re rocking these looks for Women’s History Month and beyond.
As a teen, I spent a lot of time putting records on the turntable and plastering my bedroom walls with posters of my favorite music artists. Prince and George Michael were well represented. But Sade held her own with the fellas on my wall of fame. And like most sisters who came of age in the ’80s and early ’90s, I was bewitched by this exotic fashion plate with the...

The 12-time Grammy winner and pastor has a new album, a new grandbaby and a powerful message about living in grace, gratitude and unity.
CeCe Winans is a top-selling artist and among the most awarded female gospel artists of all time. For over three decades, the eighth of ten siblings in the musical Winans family has blessed us with her sweet, soothingly soulful voice, first as one-half of a hit-making duo with her older brother BeBe, and then as a solo star.
Sisters from AARP chatted with th...

Need a good giggle? Following the lead of Whoopi Goldberg, Tiffany Haddish and Wanda Sykes, check out the new crop of comediennes who keep us rolling.
Humor heals and we love our legendary funny ladies, from comedy pioneer Moms Mabley to contemporary comediennes of color, including Whoopi Goldberg, Mo’Nique, Leslie Jones, Tiffany Haddish and Wanda Sykes. These sisters’ wicked wit, their provocative and sometimes naughty storytelling and their punch-line zingers shine a light on the good, the ...

No need to pack your bags. We’ve packed this music mix with reggae, soca, dancehall, calypso and pop hits that will help you feel Irie!
Although some Caribbean islands, including Jamaica, are open for U.S. visitors, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic not all of us are quite ready to fly the friendly skies. So if you can’t travel for a tropical getaway, do the next best thing — fill your home with Carnival-ready riddims and island vibes; sip some red, red wine; and get your whine on.
Thes...

Ten cultural institutions with meaningful stories to tell.
Every February in the U.S., Black History Month shines a light on the trailblazing talents and significant contributions of generations of African Americans. Their legacy, however, is an inextricable part of history – stories that showcase Black excellence and remind us of Black resilience should be acknowledged and celebrated year-round. Museums and cultural institutions across the country offer travelers perennial opportunities to e...

Our love song quiz recalls the musical moments that took us from sensual slow dances to flirtatious first dates, from candlelight and champagne to satin sheets.
Do you love a good love song? You know, the kind of song that brings you joy, makes you weep or weak in the knees and prompts you to sing along (albeit a little off-key) and play on repeat. The kind of song that celebrates the complexities of love — the highs and lows of falling in and out of romantic love, the beauty of finding self-...

Ready to manifest the mate you deserve? This music can help open your heart, eyes and mind. Couples will love our passionate playlist, too.
Are you looking for a new love? Healing from a breakup or loss? Longing to reconnect with an old flame? Seeking someone to watch over you? Attracting what you desire starts with a vision. What you can conceive and believe, you can achieve.
So, think of this playlist as a musical version of your vision board. The 25 dream-catching, uplifting and sentimenta...

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Black community in Los Angeles is resilient. It’s hard to discuss Black history in the city without acknowledging the Watts riots in 1965 and the LA riots in 1992. However, African Americans continue to march forward, making significant contributions to LA’s economic, social, and cultural landscape. Walk in their shoes and take a tour of landmarks, museums, and neighborhoods that showcase the pride and achievements of African American Angelenos.*
Begi...

Black culture is alive and well in Atlanta. You can see, hear, feel, and taste it. Atlanta-based label LaFace Records cranked out chart-topping hit after hit in the ‘90s, helping put the city on the map in the music world. Do the names Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher and Outkast ring a bell? There’s a good chance you’ve listened to all of these artists.
Thanks to the city’s prestigious consortium of historically black colleges and universities, there’s also a tradition of Black excellence in higher ...

Chicago has unparalleled music, food and art scenes in its own right. But here’s something you may not know about the Windy City—it was settled by Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable, a Black man from Haiti. As the story goes, the immigrant of African and French descent established a trading post by the Chicago River around 1779 and became the city’s first permanent citizen. In his honor, the Michigan Avenue Bridge was renamed the DuSable Bridge. You’ll find a stately bronze bust of DuSable near the...

Philadelphia is a pedestrian-friendly town that stays sweet on our minds like block parties and penny candy, as neo-soul star and Philly native Jill Scott has mused in song. Soul music has deep roots here—it’s where Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff created the “sound of Philadelphia” via R&B legends like Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Phyllis Hyman, and the O’Jays.

Philly is also bursting with Black art, hidden Black history gems and flourishing Black-owned businesses. Ready to take a long walk?...

The African American experience is part of the cultural tapestry that makes Washington DC such a dynamic city.
Despite the harsh reality of segregation, from the end of the 19th century through the early 20th century, Black folks thrived in the U Street corridor—known as Black Broadway. The Northwest DC neighborhood was a haven for African American performers like hometown hero Duke Ellington and Black businesses like the famed greasy spoon, Ben’s Chili Bowl (still serving up chili slathered ...