3 Women's World Records Set At Annual Lumberjack World Championships
This year, 66 men and 40 women attended the three-day competition in Hayward, Wisconsin, representing 16 states and nine countries.
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Anna Malaika Tubbs Makes Memory a Method of Resistance
Anna Malaika Tubbs, Ph.D., was expecting her first child while writing her debut book. The subject matter for The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwi
Even in Summertime, We Can’t Lose Focus: State-Level Democracy Dispatches From Maine, Kansas, Idaho and Virginia
Summertime—and the fight for democracy—is sizzling, especially in the states. Here’s what is happening across the country. Sudden shakeups in U.S. Senate elections have foisted reproductive rights fro
Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes The Case For Hope
This issue is featured in the Summer 2026 issue of ESSENCE, on newsstands July 21st. On a cool morning in May, Harriet Tubman arrived at the chambers of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson , the first Black
Spain Won The Trophy. Cabo Verde Won The World Cup.
It started in 3rd grade, when I would grab every history textbook and flip to the map to see if Cabo Verde , my parents’ birthplace, would be shown. Most often, it wasn’t, to my disappointment. I woul
Tracee Ellis Ross Did Her Own Hair For ‘Solo Traveling’ Season 2—Here’s How
Today, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross takes flight with a second season on Roku. This time around, Ross is heading through three different places: Melbourne, Gstaad, and Thailand. Naturally, ea
Almost Half of Americans View SCOTUS as Political
On this day in 1990, Justice William Brennan retired from the Supreme Court after nearly 34 years of service. He is among the longest-serving and most influential justices in the history of the court.
Texas officials are cracking down on ‘illegal birth tourism.’ Here’s what that means.
In response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that preserves birthright citizenship, Texas officials are wielding their authority to clamp down on birth tourism, primarily through investigating or suin
Single mothers lost months of income hiding from ICE — and now can’t afford to renew immigration papers
It was a frigid January morning in Minneapolis. Alexa quietly stepped outside her apartment to heat her car for her baby, who was waiting inside in her crib. They immediately spotted her. At the edge
Children in This Church Were Sexually Abused. Then They Began Abusing Other Kids. Some Continued as Adults.
Growing up in the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, Lynn and Katherine — ProPublica is using only their middles names to protect their identities — said they were victims of sexual abuse from family memb
14 Black-Owned Bikini Brands To Wear This Summer
We’re in the thick of summer heat and it’s a real scorcher most days. With us half way through the season, there are only a few more weeks left to soak up the sun. If you are preparing to hop on a yac
What It Means To Be Seen: A Black Woman’s Journey To The World Cup
My journey to the World Cup was about more than soccer. I have learned to travel with a level of preparation most people never have to consider. Before I leave home, I calculate distance, timing, ener
Coital Alignment Technique: Why This Sex Position Reliably Gets Women Off
All the NSFW details on how to do this position, according to sex therapists.
Climate Change Hits Women Hardest. It’s Time Our Solutions Reflected That.
Imagine being nine months pregnant with no clinic to give birth in and no skilled birth attendant anywhere within reach. This was the reality for 73,000 women who were weeks away from their due date i
The Beauty And Wellness Trends ESSENCE Editors Are Practicing This Season
With every busy season comes the urge to try and, well, relax. And, post ESSENCE Festival, for our editors, it’s all about looking to low pressure beauty and wellness trends that feel as good as they
Trump’s Education Department Claims It’s Focused on Educator Sexual Misconduct. Is It Real Commitment or Political Messaging?
Trump's Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter on July 10 warning schools they risk losing federal funds if they fail to protect students from sexual misconduct by school employees. Th
Trump Officials Want to Use Human Rights Aid to Advocate for White South Africans and Right-Wing Causes in Europe
Collage by Alex Bandoni/ProPublica. Source image: Roberto Schmidt/Stringer/Getty Images. For decades, the U.S. Department of State gave money to groups protecting free speech, human rights and persecu
Ciara’s World Cup Style Is the Ultimate Inspiration for the FIFA Final
If there’s one celebrity whose World Cup wardrobe has been just as exciting as the matches themselves, it’s Ciara’s . Throughout the tournament, the singer has delivered a series of standout looks tha
‘I Can’t Feed My Children’
Click to expand Image People congregate outside a World Food Programme food distribution center in Yakawlang, Bamyan province, Afghanistan, January 1, 2026. © 2026 Sayed Hassib/Reuters A man in wester
This Week in Women’s Representation: Hegseth Rolls Back Progress for Military Women; Darline Graham Nordone, Sister of Lindsey Graham, Heads to the Senate
Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation in politics, on boards, in sports and entertainment, in judicial offices and in the private sector in
Maine ICE agent linked to fatal shooting has history of domestic violence accusations
The man identified as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who fatally shot a Colombian immigrant in Maine on Monday had a documented history of domestic violence against two previous
Antiabortion Extremists Can’t Target Abortion Pill Prescribers If They Don’t Know Their Names
Four years after the fall of Roe , telemedicine is not just a convenience. For thousands of women, it is the best or only option. Telemedicine’s success means that antiabortion threats have grown more
Saving Seneca Falls: The U.S. Birthplace of ‘All Men and Women Are Created Equal’ Needs Saving
A caved-in roof. A crumbling porch. A memorial water wall in need of restoration. These are just a few areas of the $10 million of deferred maintenance needed at the Women’s Rights National Historical
Labelle’s ‘Chameleon’ At 50 — The Radical Swan Song Of A Black Female Supergroup
2026 marks 50 years since pioneering glam rock trio Labelle released their sixth studio album Chameleon , bringing to a close one of the most radical reinventions in music history. Six years earlier,
Todd Blanche Suggests He Is Open to Using the DOJ to Restrict Mailing the Abortion Pill
Antiabortion Republican senators scored a major win from embattled acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during his contentious confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Justice. Texas Sens. John
7 Essential Tips To Protect Your Teenager’s Mental Health This Summer
Raising a tween, teen, or young adult in today’s world? You’ve got questions. And during the summer when they have more free time? How much independence is too much? When do you hold firm and when do
A Look At Diahann Carroll’s Beauty Moments Through The Years
When you hear the name Diahann Carroll you think of a mellifluous voice contrasted with a bunch of no-nonsense badass characters that you wanted to be like. She was someone who embodied the word diva
The Funniest Posts From Women This Week (July 11-17)
“terrible time to have a history degree & pattern recognition skill”
Can’t Orgasm? How Couples Can Have Mutually Gratifying Sex
Does sex seem more satisfying for your partner than it does for you? Do you give pleasure, but not receive it? You may be a victim of the orgasm gap—snappy branding for a shabby situation. The dispari
One year later, 988 still doesn’t have a hotline for LGBTQ+ youth
During Pride month last year, almost 70,000 LGBTQ+ young people sought specialized help from 988, the national suicide and crisis hotline. That was the last time they were able to do so. As of today,
Darline Graham’s career centered disability. Now she could help shape national policy.
Unlike her late brother Lindsey, whose political career spanned 33 years, Darline Graham has never run for or held elected office — until she was appointed to serve the remainder of the U.S. senator’s
Libya: ICC Greenlights First Case to Move to Trial
Click to expand Image Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, December 3, 2025. © 2025 International Criminal Co
Aasna Sijapati
Aasna Sijapati sramashwar July 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant
This Black-Owned Wellness Retreat Reminds Us To Honor Our Bodies At Every Age
Imagine yourself at 90 years old. You can do the splits, dance, and maintain a high quality of life. Seems impossible, right? It’s not. Founder of Ageless Mobility Aliya M Brooks’ grandmother, Millie
Guttmacher Releases New Data on Travel for Abortion Care in 2025
Guttmacher Releases New Data on Travel for Abortion Care in 2025 July 22, 2026 sramashwar July 16, 2026 News Release Homepage featured title Patterns of Travel for Abortion Care Continued to Shift in
What would it take to end child marriage? There’s a new federal push to limit it.
Genevieve Meyer describes her childhood in the 1980s as being filled with “a lot of violence, a lot of volatility and a lot of instability.” She was raised in Southern California by a single mom who s
‘The Wrong Kind of Girl’: Feminists Warn of the Fallout From Supreme Court’s Trans Sports Decision
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday, June 30, that states may prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, holding that the Equal Protect
The Dangerous Unraveling Of The United States’ Family Planning Safety Net
The Dangerous Unraveling Of The United States’ Family Planning Safety Net Policy Analysis jloewenberg July 16, 2026 July 14, 2026 Exclude from search No Automatic Redirect Off
Keeping Score: Feminists Denounce Supreme Trump Anti-Trans Ruling; Trump Tries to Hijack America 250; Camp Mystic Will Not Reopen; Birthright Citizenship Safe for Now
In every issue of Ms. , we track research on our progress in the fight for equality , catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones . We’re
The public’s view of the Supreme Court
One of the more controversial topics concerning the Supreme Court is how attuned justices should be to public opinion. An even more fundamental question, however, is how closely public opinion matches
A Mom Said Infant Formula Killed Her Baby. The Manufacturer Closed the File.
In September 2016, a distraught mother sent infant formula maker Mead Johnson a message: “REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST!!!! DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL ME ANY MORE! “It is because of your animal based pre-term ar
US Communities Face Broken Promises on Air Pollution Monitoring
Click to expand Image Robert Taylor in Reserve, Saint John the Baptist Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. October 17, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch On July 13, the Trump administratio
Ukraine: Russian-Run Schools Violate Children’s Rights
Click to expand Image A mother hugs her children after their return from the occupied territory of Ukraine via the Ukraine-Belarus border, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Volyn region, Ukraine, on
Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker
This page tracks recent state actions to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage, including approved and pending 1115 waivers, legislation that will require the state to seek federal approval through a SP
Pakistani Strikes in Afghanistan Raise Civilian Casualty Concerns
Click to expand Image Residents walk through the rubble from Pakistani airstrikes that killed civilians in the village of Mandokhail, Chamkani district, Afghanistan, June 29, 2026. © 2026 Saifullah Za
For Black women hit by anti-DEI backlash, this election is personal
ATLANTA — Kecia Ellick doesn’t see herself as having much in common with Keisha Lance Bottoms, beyond them both being Black women in their 50s who are mothers and neighbors — and having names that sou
You’ll Be Able To Buy Non-Toxic Braiding Hair At Sephora Soon
Whether you’re a diehard boho braids lover or a queen of crochet, the innovation in braiding hair has been little to nonexistent. But Ruka, a Black-owned brand , is completely flipping the industry up
How The National Coalition Of 100 Black Women Is Building Opportunity Through Sisterhood And Service
Courtesy of Coca-Cola® At the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola®, Dr. Virginia W. Harris, National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women , reflected on how the organi
Ciara And Her 2-Year-Old Are Already Sharing Beauty Rituals
When women think of their earliest beauty memories, their mothers often come to mind. From watching them put on their lipstick (then sneaking some when they’re not looking) to stealing their favorite
Senator Cory Booker Reflects On Love And Hope As America Celebrates Its 250th Year
While United States Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joined the Global Black Economic Forum’s (GBEF) Business Summit and Public Convention during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, helping shape c
Domestic violence groups fear survivor services could disappear without warning
Domestic violence organizations are raising the alarm over a proposed federal rule change that policy analysts say politicizes the federal grantmaking process and clears the way for officials to cance
Patterns of Travel for Abortion Care Continued to Shift in 2025
Patterns of Travel for Abortion Care Continued to Shift in 2025 Report sramashwar July 15, 2026 Exclude from search No Facebook Image MAPS July 2026 preview social@4x.png Twitter Image MAPS July 2026
The court’s criminal law term: overview and observations
Approximately two weeks after the final opinion of the 57 argued cases decided by the Supreme Court in the October 2025-26 Term was filed, this column presents an overview of the “pure” criminal law d
Tia Williams’ ‘The Missed Connection’: Inside The Author’s Hot New Romance Novel
The summer months are a perfect time to lose yourself in the pages of a juicy page turner . Even if your bank account or PTO balances are coming up short, the right book allows you to easily escape wi
‘I Don’t Want To Die’: Texas Patients Are Afraid to Get Pregnant
The fear of losing their lives is precisely what many pregnant Texas residents say they’ve experienced after four young women died in the state when they were unable to access medically necessary abor
You Will Hear These 10 False Narratives About Abortion. Here’s All You’ll Need to Fight Back
Misinformation about abortion care is rampant and being weaponized at state and federal levels to justify wide-ranging restrictions across the United States. Ensuring awareness of these narratives, an
This AI Chatbot Pushes Conversion Therapy on Trans Users
Editor’s note: This story contains sensitive content, including depictions of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments and transphobic extremism, conversion practices, and discussions of suicide. If you or a loved one
FCC Officials Took Pricey Gifts From Paramount as the Company Needed Approval for Billion-Dollar Deals
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors gala. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The rich and famous who filed into the Kennedy Center’s opera ho
Justices Kagan and Barrett testify before Congress
In the first appearances by members of the Supreme Court before Congress in seven years, Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified on Tuesday in both the House of Representatives and the Se
Effortlessly Chic: The Ultimate Guide To Shopping Luxury Flip-Flops This Summer
Havaianas may have laid the groundwork, but they’re no longer the only flip-flops defining the category. Once reserved for beach vacations and poolside afternoons, the simple sandal has evolved into o