August 27th, 2024
J. Pharoah Doss: Cherry-picking James Baldwin on his centennial
The prolific black writer James Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, and would have turned 100 at the beginning of this month. Numerous publications commemorated Baldwin’s centennial and literary achievements. Baldwin died in 1987. By the turn of the century, literary enthusiasts held Baldwin in high regard, but the general public knew little about him. That changed in 2015, when Ta-Nehisi Coates published Between the World and Me. Coates’ work was inspired by James Baldwin’s letter to his nephew from his well-known 1963 essay collection, The Fire Next Time. After Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison dubbed Coates the “next … Continued
August 22nd, 2024
Why Beyoncé Should Perform ‘Freedom’ Before Kamala Harris Accepts Presidential Nomination At DNC
The 2024 Democratic National Convention will come to a close tonight after Kamala Harris accepts her party’s Presidential nomination. It’s a moment for Harris to make history while also stating her case to Americans as to why she should be the next leader of this country. Prior to Harris’ highly-anticipated speech, there’s an opportunity to add a performance the will define this campaign. When President Joe Biden announced that he would step aside so that Harris would become the Presidential nominee, Harris released her first campaign video with Beyoncé’s “Freedom” as the backdrop. The lyrics of the song include, “Freedom, … Continued
August 22nd, 2024
Oprah Takes Aim At Vance; Stevie Wonder, John Legend Electrifies Crowd; Hakeem Jeffries Warns Against Trump ‘Spinning The Block’: DNC Night 3
Night three of the Democratic National Convention continued push the message of moving to the future instead of dwelling in the past. Several key political figures and celebrities took center stage at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 21. Oprah, who lived in Chicago during the height of her popular talk show, made a surprise appearance on the DNC stage. She took a moment to inspire the audience to vote for VP Kamala Harris while also taking aim at controversial comments by J.D. Vance. Vance claimed that America is led by “childless cat ladies.” Oprah criticized Vance by pointing … Continued
August 22nd, 2024
Watch: Bishop William J. Barber II Shares His Thoughts About What He’d Like to See at The 2024 DNC
Chicago Defender Managing Editor Tacuma Roeback caught up with the influential Bishop William J. Barber II during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In this insightful interview, Bishop Barber, a renowned minister, social activist, and professor at Yale Divinity School, shares why he’s in Chicago and discusses his ongoing fight for social justice through the Poor People’s Campaign and Repairers of the Breach.
August 21st, 2024
‘America’s Ready for a Better Story’: Obamas Rally the Nation with Electrifying Speeches at DNC
Michelle Obama stepped onto the stage, Tuesday evening during the second night of the Democratic National Convention, her presence as commanding as ever, as if the whole world had been holding its breath just to hear what she had to say. A packed arena in Chicago greeted her with thunderous applause, but the energy in the room shifted the moment she began to speak. The former first lady wasn’t just delivering a speech—she was holding court, addressing a nation that had weathered four years of bitter division under a leader who thrived on chaos. As she began to dismantle the … Continued
Bishop William J. Barber II Shares His Thoughts About What He'd Like to See at The 2024 DNC
