With the 2026 Winter Olympics coming to an end, many athletes have trained their entire lives to compete against the world. Not only is it a great opportunity to display excellence, but there’s also patriotic pride in seeing your country rack up gold, silver, and bronze medals. Similar to other sports, barriers had to be broken for Black Americans to showcase their skills on the ice. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Debi Thomas, one of the very first Black figure skaters to achieve national and international success.

What used to be a far-fetched wish, has slowly become an accessible modern American dream as hybrid and fully electric vehicles have grown in popularity. Luxury manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid compete for market share with more affordable brands like Toyota, Honda, and Ford. Improved technology helped increase the number of EVs on the road from 1 million in 2016 to over 10 million in 2020. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Denise Gray, an innovative Black American woman who helped revolutionize the car industry.

Tennis was my favorite sport to play in high school. In the 7th grade, I got the grand idea to learn how to play after watching the Australian Open and immediately fell in love. The sport has had a stereotype of being dominated by white Europeans and many Black women have been shut out due to staunch racism and elitism. Black players are labeled as argumentative and they often receive negative press from the media. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Venus Williams and how she stamped her legacy as one of the greatest tennis players ever.

The Grim Reaper is a made-up personification of death that has been widely accepted in Western society. It’s represented as a shadow figure with a hooded face and carries a thin sickle blade. The figure has haunted children for centuries and even grown adults are afraid for the day when he escorts you to the afterlife. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Solomon Fairfax, the American slave who earned the nickname Grim Reaper while fighting for his freedom.

Playing in a Super Bowl is considered one of the highest accomplishments for a football player and many athletes train their entire lives for a chance to win the Lombardi Trophy. It’s estimated that only 3.1% of players actually achieve such a rare feat. Roster changes, injuries, coaching mishaps, and other factors can dictate if a player ever secures a ring but some of the elites propel their teams forward and refuse to retire without leaving their mark on the game. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Randy Moss, one of the greatest wide receivers to ever grace the field.

Many of us learned about the Statue of Liberty from Schoolhouse Rock!’s iconic “The Great American Melting Pot” episode released in 1977. A whole generation grew up singing about Lovely Lady Liberty and created core memories that have withstood the test of time. Seen as a symbol of freedom, the statue has a hidden history that has been minimized over time. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on one of America’s most notable landmarks, the Statue of Liberty.

While Black Americans have had a long, torrid fight for our rights in the United States, there have been small pockets of revolutionaries around the world who have also advocated for our equal treatment. From chattel slavery in the Caribbean to indentured servitude in Europe, the world has always had a negative perception of melanated people. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Vicente Guerrero, the first Black president that fought for equality and abolished slavery in Mexico.

Starting a business is one sure-fire way of securing economic stability. During Jim Crow, Black Americans were forced to get creative with how they sustained themselves especially since most lucrative jobs were reserved for white workers. They also had to work twice as hard to get half as far since, culturally, they didn’t have the luxury of passing along generational wealth. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Burdines Store, a successful Black American owned department store in Miami.

Skype used to have a firm hold on the virtual conferencing market until the 2020 pandemic forced companies like Google, Zoom, and Microsoft to create competing products. When everyone had to shelter in place, businesses were forced to embrace new methods of communication with customers and employees. Families that were spread out used some creative ingenuity to maintain close relationships, but none of that would have been possible without some key technological advancements decades prior. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Marian Croak, the Black American woman who originally developed the voice over IP technology that drives video conferencing.

I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We are exactly where we are supposed to be in our journey. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that we encounter that isn’t a blessing or a lesson. Everything is literally mapped out in God’s perfect timing for us…we just have to trust in Him and know that He will never put us through more than we can handle.

Music truly makes my world go around. I never get tired of listening to my favorite songs or building the perfect playlists for every occasion. Most of my listening statistics include R&B, hip-hop, rap, and soul and has evolved over time as I’ve gotten older. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Jill Scott, one of my all-time favorite artists who has stamped herself as a legend in Black culture.

Ice cream is a dessert loved by many, especially since it comes in numerous different flavors, shapes, and forms to satisfy anyone who craves the creamy concoction. From Drumsticks to pints to Dreamsicles and everything in between, all ages can find something they enjoy. While it’s now a popular treat, there was once a time when Black people weren’t allowed to eat it. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on butter pecan ice cream and why it’s a delicacy loved by Black Americans across the country.

January is the most cliche time of the year to re-invent yourself, but it’s usually the easiest month to actually change your habits. Not only is it the very first month of the year, but there’s a lot of marketing money spent to motivate you to jump back into the gym, purchase a fancy new planner, or even go back to school and advance your career. Fresh off the grind of the holidays, January is an easy way to get back to normal life. While I didn’t make any resolutions or goals last year, I’m in the mood to see what I can make shake in 2026.

Unity is important in advancing a group’s interests politically, economically, and socially. Many times we’ve seen uprisings and movements fail because everyone involved weren’t operating on the same accord. Detractors can originate from amongst the group or they can be manufactured to infiltrate and undermine the group’s efforts. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Kwanzaa and dive into why it’s problematic for Black Americans who built the United States.

The University of Tennessee’s live mascot, Smokey XI, recently retired due to his reserved temperament that made him uncomfortable in public settings. It was reported that he had trained for two years in order to deal with the rambunctious demands of an SEC football program that ranged from attending packed games to making appearances and interacting with fans. While the story is a funny one on the surface, it really serves as a deeper reminder that unfortunately, you can’t force yourself to fit into a square that wasn’t designed for you.

Black Americans have always struggled to gain a foothold economically, socially, and politically in America. From the evil act of slavery to discrimination, generations have had to fight tooth and nail just to have some semblance of peace. Even when smart business owners abided by segregation laws, their organizations were often undermined and sabotaged simply because of their success. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Bruce’s Beach, a successful Black beach resort in California that was unjustly taken by eminent domain.

As winter firmly grasps us in her cold embrace, it’s important to practice some small, but very important routines to ensure your home stays safe and secure during extremely frigid temperatures. Not only does the risk of fires skyrocket during colder months, but there’s always a threat of water pipes freezing over and busting. If you’re anything like me, you don’t mind the cooler temperatures and actually enjoy bundling up in hoodies and warm, soft clothing, but if you’re absolutely against the chill, you’re counting down the days until warmer weather returns.

With the College Football Playoffs right around the corner, there’s little time left to determine which teams will make the bracket. Almost all college athletes dream of the fame and notoriety that comes with being an elite player, but some also hope to win a national championship to solidify their name in history and secure the Heisman, which is annually awarded to the most outstanding athlete. It’s an honor even being selected as a finalist because it shows that a player’s hard work on the field and during practice has led to national attention. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the very first Black American player to win the prestigious award, Ernie Davis.

Recently, I got a front row seat to a gruesome car accident during my afternoon commute home. I was so close that I could’ve easily been pulled into the fray if miniscule details didn’t work out in my favor like my distance from the random glass spilling on the ground and the flying car pieces. It’s safe to say that the Lord definitely protected me that day and I can’t quite describe how grateful I am to have escaped without any damage.

Dogs are truly man’s best friend. There’s no greater joy than basking in the love from a four legged animal that trusts you and relies on you for comfort, warmth, safety, and food. Even when they are misbehaving, you can’t be too harsh on them because they are so cute, cuddly, and fiercely loyal. Some dog breeds like pit bulls have received less than favorable stereotypes over the years because humans have negatively exploited their strength and abused them. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on how pit bulls have always been in the hearts of Americans as a favorite dog breed, despite their polarizing reputation.