Tracy Hopkins

Looking for some hot jazz, hip-hop and soul for a fun-filled summer? Mark your calendars and plan a groovy getaway with your girls or a melody-making date night at one of these seven music festivals across the country, featuring Grammy award winners like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Samara Joy, Missy Elliott, the Isley Brothers and Herbie Hancock.
The Roots Picnic
Philadelphia (June 2-4, therootspicnic.com/)
Kick off your summer jam season at the annual Roots Picnic at the Mann Center in Philly’s Fairmou...

When it comes to making travel plans, do you like to play concierge and create an itinerary full of sightseeing highlights and festive activities? Or do you prefer to just show up at a lavish resort, unpack, unwind and relax knowing that daily meals, fitness and wellness activities, and outdoor excursions are already covered and planned?
If the latter sounds appealing, then staying at an all-inclusive may suit your vacation vibe. Just be mindful of when and where you want to travel. According...

More than 100 million American adults live with diabetes or prediabetes. But despite the prevalence of these conditions among different racial and ethnic groups, the Black American community is disproportionately affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the United States, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes in 2018, and non-Hispanic Black Americans were twice as likely as non-Hi...

Do you want to immerse yourself in culture and connect more deeply with your roots on your next travel adventure? Perhaps you haven’t allotted enough time to secure a tourist visa and get the necessary vaccinations to make the pilgrimage to a West African country like Ghana, Mali, Senegal or Nigeria. But you can still heed the call of the motherland with a trip to one of these four dynamic Black diasporic destinations in South America, the Caribbean and stateside. Each city or region is overf...

If going vegan has crossed your mind, whether it’s to spice up your meatless Mondays or for long-term spiritual or ethical reasons, the good news is that brown rice and steamed vegetables is no longer the bland health-food standard.
Eliminating animal and dairy products from your diet has health benefits too. Research shows that adopting a plant-based diet can lower your risk of heart disease, lower your blood pressure and bad (LDL) cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes, and help you maint...

Suite! Upscale resorts with private kitchens, pools and other amenities may save you cash — and the uncertainties of renting from a homeowner.
Although staying at a hotel-style resort is often a convenient and reliable option, it can also be predictable and pricey (room service, resort and mini bar fees, hello!). As an alternative, condo and guesthouse rentals are popular, but as we’ve discovered through trial and error, not all experiences with companies such as Airbnb, HomeToGo or Vrbo are ...

Richmond’s Black culinary scene is blossoming because of chefs and restaurateurs who have fought to preserve their foodways and ancestral connections in the city that was at one time the largest slave-trading center in the Upper South.
“The joy, pain, and stories of our past and present are centered around food. In celebration, in sorrow, food connects us,” said Amy Wentz, a proud Richmond native and co-founder of the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience. The goal of the weeklong event (March...

You loved our list of retreats so much, we’re back with even more pampering picks.
When was the last time you took yourself on a spa date, Sis? Setting aside 30, 60 or 90 minutes for a refreshing facial or a tension-taming massage might be the self-care treat you need to regain that natural glow, boost your immunity and put some pep in your step. To enhance your experience, we’ve found five Black women–owned day spas across the country for you to consider.* Plus, cool cultural things to do wh...

These institutions around the country celebrate Black excellence and inspire purpose in the present by telling stories from the past.
This Black History Month, take time to celebrate our regal and resilient culture by visiting a museum that chronicles and celebrates how we as a people have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and achieved odds-defying wins. Start your tour of our journey from slavery to freedom at one of these renowned cultural institutions.
International African Ameri...

Cue Smokey Robinson cooing, “Baby, let’s cruise, away from here.”
If you’re ready to sail away and escape the frigid temps of winter, you’re in good company. After hitting rough seas during the pandemic due to serious coronavirus outbreaks, cruising appears to be back in high demand. According to a recent AAA survey, 52 percent of U.S. adults are just as likely or more likely to consider taking a cruise vacation as they were before the pandemic.
Before you start shopping for chic resortwear, ...

During the racial reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd, protests raged in Richmond, Virginia, in the summer of 2020. A prominently displayed statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee perched on Richmond’s tree-lined Monument Avenue was defaced, and became a rallying post for protesters. A year later, and more than 130 years after it was installed, the statue of Lee was removed from its pedestal. By the end of 2022, the last of the city’s public Confederate monuments were remov...

Relax at one of these eco-friendly retreats nestled in nature.
Spending time in nature is good for your mind, body and spirit. So if taking a walk in your local park can help alleviate stress and anxiety, and boost your mood when your spirits are low, imagine how relaxing a getaway to an exotic tropical locale or mountainous retreat might be.
Does a meditative meander through a field of wildflowers, a stroll along a white sand beach or a hike through a rain forest sound like vacation bliss? I...

From jazz to jambalaya, African American culture is at the heart and soul of what makes the Crescent City so musical, vibrant, and flavorful. Beyond the colorful strings of plastic Mardi Gras beads, powdered beignets, and over-imbibed tourists on Bourbon Street, the city’s multicultural history rises to greet you at nearly every turn.
Past meets present in its most striking form as you stroll through the French Quarter and look up at the ornate wrought iron balconies, reminiscent of elegant P...

If you come to Miami and only fill your itinerary with tried-and-true tourist destinations like South Beach and Miami Beach, the Design District and Wynwood Walls, then you’re missing out.
Although not as well traveled as Little Havana, where Afro-Cuban culture is represented in music, art, and dance, the tropical city of Miami is also home to distinctive historically Black and Caribbean neighborhoods and cultural landmarks that are worth checking out on your next trip.
Want to explore more o...

Charlotte is a historically rich city that prides itself on being part of the new and moderate South. Even so, the Queen City’s Black history remains tied to the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow segregation, and the events of the subsequent Civil Rights movement. While more quietly displayed than in smaller Southern cities, the stories of Black Charlotteans are showcased in several historic neighborhoods, parks, and cultural centers.

Want to explore more of Charlotte’s Black history and culture? L...