ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, a graduate of Winston-Salem University in North Carolina, is creating a new docuseries that will focus heavily on the history and importance of America’s HCBUs. The show is being produced with director Elaine Oliver, the director and
By Claretta Bellamy Media and entertainment mogul Byron Allen believes the news and media industry needs more inclusion, an issue he will address now that he is the owner of the Black News Channel (BNC). In July, Allen was approved by a
It came down to the wire — the Emmys are next month, after all — but NBC and the Television Academy have finally found a host for this year’s ceremony: “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson. Thompson, the longest-running cast member in
Netflix’s top executive team in Africa plans to continue spending on scripted and unscripted content across genres until it unearths the big “Squid Game”-like show that captures global buzz. During Tuesday’s “See What’s Next Africa” showcase in Johannesburg, South Africa, the streamer
By Daniel Arkin In a video posted online Friday, Oscar-winning actor Will Smith — making his most extensive public comments since he slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March — apologized directly to the comedian and said he was “deeply remorseful” over
By Zoe Sottile Actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known for her groundbreaking portrayal of Lt. Nyota Uhura in “Star Trek: The Original Series,” has died at age 89, according to a statement from her son, Kyle Johnson. “Last night, my mother, Nichelle
By Elizabeth Parker A new opera, Castor and Patience, takes on the pervasive barriers to land ownership for Black Americans. With a libretto by former poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith and a score by composer Gregory Spears, the opera
By Nathan Pugh When Code Switch has covered the theater industry, it’s often to call out some of the uncomfortable racial dynamics in the room—whether that’s the unease of watching Hamilton with a primarily white audience, controversies surrounding Asian representation in Miss Saigon, or the complexities
By Arturo Conde Actor Jay Ellis remembers watching the 1986 movie “Top Gun” at an Air Force base in Austin, Texas. He was only 8 or 9 years old, and the blockbuster made him dream about becoming a fighter pilot. Ellis wanted
By Arrman Kyaw Rapper Travis Scott is giving 100 students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) $10,000 each as graduation gifts, USA Today reported. The money – a total of $1 million – is meant to help graduating students with final fees. It
By Keenan Higgins Getting scouted for a record deal is a dream for any aspiring musician, and the chances of worldwide success are even greater when signed to a major label like Warner Music Group. It looks like the next big superstar
