Tracy Hopkins

Realize your gifts as you draw inspiration from Janet Jackson, Alvin Ailey and others. Plus: Addictive new dramatic series feature creators from New York City to Napa Valley.
One positive takeaway from these trying times is the downtime we’ve been afforded to reevaluate and, in some instances, reinvent ourselves. For some, that may mean tapping into your creative side. Perhaps you’re in the kitchen whipping up goodies from scratch, using your green thumb to grow fresh herbs and veggies in the...

The places to visit for lively, in-person events, classes or coffee. Plus, you can shop for best-selling and hard-to-find books safely online.
Toni Morrison once said, “Books are a form of political action. Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind.”
So, in the spirit of amplifying Black voices and buying Black, when you need to find solace, inspiration or escape into the pages of a good book, here are eight Black-owned (many are also Black women-owned) bookstores acro...

Meet the moment calm, happy and put together with these handy helpers in your handbag or tote. Plus: 7 things to remove immediately for your protection.
You likely tote necessities like an extra face mask; travel-size hand sanitizer; your favorite lipstick and moisturizing lip balm; a pack of facial tissues; pressed powder or blotting paper to combat T-zone shine; and breath mints or a bag of peppermint candy (grams would be proud).
But what less obvious items should you consider carrying for...

Here’s seasonal viewing fun for everyone! Pour some eggnog and cozy up to Christmas specials and TV movies full of music, romance, drama and holiday cheer.

Cheekbones for days! Celebrity makeup artists help you brush up on how to sculpt a round, oblong, square, oval, diamond- or heart-shaped face.

Or, if you first got to know their gutsy sister heroines on screen, check out the books.
Books by literary luminaries like Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Sapphire and Nella Larsen hold a special place in our hearts and take up cherished space on our bookshelves and e-readers. We are equally excited when these magical works are transformed into films.
One adaptation we’re looking forward to is Octavia E. Butler’s prophetic Parable of the Sower, about a young woman who can literally feel the pain...

From Fantasia’s ‘Collard Greens and Cornbread’ to Ray Charles and James Taylor’s ‘Sweet Potato Pie,’ you’ll savor this sumptuous buffet of sound.
Can you give Food Network stars Carla Hall and Sunny Anderson a run for their money in the kitchen? Well, not only can cooking at home help to alleviate stress and save money, it has physical health benefits, too. According to Harvard Health, research shows that “the more people cook at home, the healthier their diet, the fewer calories they consume...

Philadelphia is one of my favorite and most frequent getaways from New York City. With historic landmarks at every turn, the City of Brotherly Love is also full of art and soul, and steeped in African American culture. I particularly love the passion and resilience of the city’s Black artists and entrepreneurs; on my latest trip, I visited two Black woman-owned businesses that have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing racial tumult, conveying an inspirational message of pride and perse...

Written by Tracy E. Hopkins
Located just a few hours from New York City and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia has historic landmarks at every turn. But the City of Brotherly Love is also full of art and soul, and steeped in African American culture. Here are our favorite stops on a road trip celebrating the passion and resilience of the city’s Black artists and entrepreneurs.
This polished beauty supply store features a mix of independent and mainstream hair care brands, primarily for people of ...

These new and returning series feature bold and beautiful sisters, gripping plot twists, sexy shenanigans and intriguing stories.
The TV enthusiasts among us are in luck! In the new year, we have new seasons of Sistas, First Wives Club and Run the World to look forward to, but in the meantime, there are several shows featuring strong, sexy and smart Black female leads, including favorites like Issa Rae, Brandy, Yaya DaCosta, Naturi Naughton and Queen Latifah, to add to our fall watch list. So...

Are you ready to be the change you want to see in the world? Or maybe you want to see the world. Here’s inspiration for manifesting and making it happen.
This is our time to shine, and these four empowering podcasts may inspire and encourage you to be bold, step out on faith (and preparation) and follow your heart’s desire.
Get in the spirit with Abiola Abrams, a beautiful sister inside and out with radiant brown skin, big hair and high vibration energy. Abrams is an empowerment coach, spirit...

Plus: Can’t get your hands on a passport soon enough? 5 tropical island destinations you can enjoy without one.
Before you travel, check for travel restrictions for each destination and requirements for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 viral test.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In Rio, the rhythm is gonna get you, and so is the melting pot culture with deep roots in the African slave trade. Social media influencer Natasha Naila (@theweavewhisperer) partied in Rio with a group of girlfriend...

The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) launched the Louisville Pilot Project in August 2020 to support people who live in Louisville’s 40203 area code where the average annual income is $12,880 for an individual and $26,500 for a family of four. The goal of the four-month program, which ran until December 2020, was to improve the quality of life for community members dealing with serious illness by providing access to care, changing the care model, and investing in trusted partners, such as faith leader driven coalitions, to address disparities in access to care.

You’ll feel transported to the Netherlands on a walk through Curaçao’s capital city of Willemstad.
Reach beyond the beach and soak up local food, art, culture, and more.
Welcome to Curaçao—or, as local residents say, “Bon Bini.” On this southern Caribbean island, sunny skies and azure blue waters abound, and as one of these western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles, Curaçao offers balmy temperatures year round and very few hurricanes.
But there’s more to experience in Curaçao than satisfyi...

For your viewing pleasure: films about vocal legends Mary J. and Aretha, Questlove’s ‘Black Woodstock’ documentary and a new horror flick from Jordan Peele.
Beat the heat and chill out with these four summer flicks in a cineplex near you or stream them in the comfort of your home. Our picks include a documentary about Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige and the much-anticipated biopic about the Queen of Soul, starring Jennifer Hudson.
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Te...

‘Sisters’ readers rule! To celebrate our newsletter’s third anniversary, we salute you with a playlist of 26 empowering and inspiring songs.
“We got rhythm. We got pride. We birth kings. We birth tribes,” Beyoncé belts on her celebratory, Black queens anthem, “Black Parade.”
Yaaas, Queen Bey!
You are royalty, sis. So hold your head up high, and don’t forget your place on the throne, no matter what obstacles you may face.
To celebrate Sisters’ third anniversary, we’re saluting you, our majesti...