Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Skin
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Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Hair
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Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Nails
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Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Self
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Public Opinion on Abortion Has Shifted Four Years After ‘Dobbs’ Decision Overturned ‘Roe v. Wade’
More Americans now hold absolutist positions, supporting legal access to abortion in all or most cases and opposing government regulation altogether. It’s been four years since the Supreme Court’s dec
5 Raw Quotes From America’s Largest Raw-Milk Dairy Owner
From left: Mark McAfee is interviewed by ProPublica audio producer Gabrielle Berbey and reporter Annie Waldman at Raw Farm in Fresno, California. Sarahbeth Maney for ProPublica I never thought I’d spe
Niger: 3 Years of Military Rule Deepens Human Rights Crisis
Click to expand Image Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger attends the Alliance of Sahel States second summit on security and development, in Bamako, Mali, December 23, 2025. © 2025 Mali Government Infor
UAE: International Cycling’s Top Team Risks ‘Sportswashing’
Click to expand Image Cyclists during stage 14 of the 2026 Tour de France, July 18, 2026. © 2026 Gregory Van Gansen/Belga/Sipa USA via AP Photo (Beirut) – The United Arab Emirates’ cycling team E
Unboxed: Antoinette Wooden Wants Black Women To Find Wellness Through Archery
For 34-year-old Columbus, Ohio native Antoinette Wooden, a practice that was initially meant to temporarily soothe during a time of unexpected change ended up shifting her future in the best way. It a
Abortion Trends Before and After Dobbs
This brief reviews the different sources of abortion data in the United States, the factors that have affected abortion rates across the U.S, before and after Roe v. Wade, and what we may see as the T
How ‘Wounds To Wisdom’ Turned Honest Conversations Into A Documentary
For several reasons, Black men have often been expected to carry life’s burdens without complaint. Wounds to Wisdom , a new documentary premiering at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festiv
Documentary ‘State of Firsts’ Follows Sarah McBride’s Historic Journey to Congress
A new documentary, State of Firsts , released during Pride Month, chronicles Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.)’s historic path to Congress amid growing anti-transgender rhetoric. It is now showing in select
Tennis is the first major women’s sports league to require genetic testing
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has taken a step beyond most other women’s sports leagues by requiring genetic sex testing for female athletes. Despite being targeted at transgender women, this p
What Happens When a Dancer Is Forced to Become a Refugee? ‘Born to Dance, Forced to Run’ Captures Life Under the Shadow of Deportation
Born to Dance, Forced to Run is a powerful new documentary that follows Steeven Labady, a queer Haitian dancer whose relentless pursuit of his artistic dreams is continually upended by displacement, a
Why the Blake Lively Case Matters—and Why Most Women Like Her Have No Legal Recourse
According to Blake Lively's allegations, Justin Baldoni repeatedly discussed his porn addiction and personal sex life, made comments about her body and improvised physical intimacy that had not been c
We Didn’t Outgrow ESSENCE Festival—We Grew With It
There is something extraordinary about watching history unfold, not from the front row as a spectator, but as someone who has faithfully shown up year after year. For seven women from New Orleans , ES
Imaan Hammam Discusses Her Favorite And ‘Very Sexy’ Victoria’s Secret Bra
Going under the knife was never a requirement for a breast lift. At least, for a temporary one. Since 1994, when Victoria’s Secret launched their iconic Miracle Bra, push-up bras have been the brand’s
The U.S. has already surpassed last year’s number of measles cases. Here’s what’s driving the surge.
The number of measles cases reported in the United States so far this year has surpassed the total recorded in all of 2025, a mid-year milestone that shows the difficulty of containing the highly cont
Mourning Nolan Xavier Wells: Why This Loss Feels So Personal For The Black Community
On Monday, Nolan Xavier Wells was laid to rest at Center Pointe Church in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The handsome teen with a charming smile would have celebrated his 19 th birthday o
Best TV and Streaming for Summer 2026: Staff Picks
Journalists do more than write and edit—many of us also watch TV. A lot of it. Partly, we need to stay on top of pop culture news: Who’s talking about abortion on TV? How many series feature queer pro
Why Attacks on Immigrant Communities Are Reproductive Justice Issues
These horrors, perpetrated by immigration enforcement officers, are exactly what the federal government approved billions to fund this summer. The post Why Attacks on Immigrant Communities Are Reprodu
Trump is reshaping immigration courts with help from a brutal comic book character
Masked law enforcement officers in tactical gear throwing civilians to the ground. In some cases — like Renee Good, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero — officers shoot civilians dead .
How the Government’s Obligation to Keep Foreign Workers Safe Collided With Its Efforts to Keep Farms Afloat
A laborer picks tomatoes on one of the few farms that participates in a voluntary initiative to protect workers from exploitation. Audra Melton for ProPublica It’s been nearly two years since I starte
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Reclaims the Diversity of the Ancient World
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey validates the culture through this quarter-billion-dollar Hollywood production—best seen and appreciated in movie theaters. So, why did some react to this latest retell
I Worked In A Gentlemen's Club. Here's The Uncomfortable Truth Many Married Women Won't Face.
"The double standards need to be eliminated."
Entergy highlights women leading the future of the utility industry
It has been said that nothing happens without electricity. From industry to small mom-and-pop businesses, to households across America, the utility industry provides the power people need to live thei
US Congress Should Pass Legislation on Sudan
Click to expand Image Displaced Sudanese people who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), walk in the Um Yanqur camp, located on the southwestern edge of Tawila, in wes
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Welcomes Six Honorary Members At 72nd International Boule
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Incorporated added six accomplished women to its sisterhood this week during the organization’s 72nd International Boule in Las Vegas. The sorority conferred honorary memb
Single Mothers Lost Months of Income Hiding From ICE—and Now Can’t Afford to Renew Immigration Papers
This story was originally reported by Chabeli Carrazana of The 19th , and republished through Rewire News Group’s partnership with the 19th News Network. It was a frigid January morning in Minneapolis
Indigenous survivors of violence see fewer services after federal cuts
Organizations serving American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of violence say reductions in federal funding have led to over 1,000 unmet requests for help, according to a new report. The Urban Ind
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
Ms. Global: Genocide in Sudan, Withdrawal of HIV Funding in South Africa, Two Killed in Protests in Afghanistan Over Arrests of Women
The U.S. ranks as the 19th most dangerous country for women, 11th in maternal mortality, 30th in closing the gender pay gap, 75th in women’s political representation, and painfully lacks paid family l
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.
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”