black – Breakthrough U.S.

A Moment to Rejoice – And a Reminder of What’s Possible

The entire team at Breakthrough is ecstatic at the news that seven-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has finally been released from her unjust imprisonment in Russia. After nearly a year of being detained under unimaginably harsh conditions thousands of miles away from her wife, family, friends, teammates and community, Brittney is at last being reunited…

Beyonce, Lizzo Set New Standard for Fixing Ableist Lyrics

“When you know what it feels like to be harmed, and you have a platform and you take responsibility and you immediately get to work on righting the wrong, you not only are doing your work, but hopefully continuing to set an example,” said Nakisha Lewis, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough, a…

The Woman Behind The Magic: Free Black Women’s Library Founder OlaRonke Akinmowo

In 2015, with only 100 books in tow and a brownstone stoop, Brooklyn, New York-based artist, set decorator, cultural worker and single mom OlaRonke Akinmowo launched The Free Black Women’s Library. Since then it has grown into a social art project that celebrates the brilliance, creativity, and diversity of Black women writers from all over…

Brittney Griner’s Detention Shines Light On Pay Inequity In Professional Sports

Since February 2022, seven-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner, a current player with the Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia due to the alleged presence of vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. After more than 148 days in Russian detention, Brittney’s trial finally began on July 7, 2022, and while we wait for…

A Tale of Two Traffic Stops in the United States

Today the Organization Issued the Following Statement from President and CEO Nakisha M. Lewis: On June 27, 2022, a young Black man named Jayland Walker was murdered by police officers in Akron, OH. Walker, who was unarmed, was shot at over 90 times, with at least 60 bullets striking his body, ultimately causing him to…

Black Girls Deserve Safety and Compassion, Not Criminalization

Since 2015, the safety and security of Black girls on school campuses remain in jeopardy. In 2012 alone, Black girls were suspended six times more than white girls in public schools across the country, according to a report from the African American Policy Forum. Additionally, girls and non-binary youth who are suspended face a significantly greater likelihood of pushout, where youth are pushed out of the school system.

It’s Time for More Body Diversity on Reality Shows and Beyond

From The Bachelor to Married at First Sight, reality dating shows constantly give us the same premise: thin, conventionally attractive people looking for love. These shows often lack racial diversity, with most if not all the cast members being white. But there is also a lack of size diversity as well that is hard to ignore.

Don’t Forget to “Just Breathe”

In this series, Brittany shared some of her favorite mindfulness practices. We’ve highlighted three of our favorite tips from Just Breathe…

We Need to Talk About Cosby: Breaking Through the Noise of Rape Culture

Last week, We Need to Talk About Cosby, a revelatory four-part docuseries, debuted on Showtime. It is the latest in a series of film and television projects to take on rape culture… The documentary does the important and difficult work of explaining Bill Cosby’s notable contributions to art and media without shying away from the truth we know about Cosby now: that he is a serial rapist and predator whose abuses span decades.

A Look Back at Representation in 2020: 8 Ways Black Hair Matters

Today, Black women are loving their hair unapologetically. We are creating and buying our own products from brands made “By and for Us.” Black hair is a story of resilience and the story has continued as a key topic of conversation throughout 2020. Yes, our twist outs, fros and low cuts are taking center stage as a representation of independence and strength. And yet, centuries of race-based hair discrimination has sparked the saying, “Black hair is not just hair.” Why?