At YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, last night, the Insecure 10th Anniversary reunion brought Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell and showrunner Prentice Penny back together, with the series’ past still feeling as fresh as ever. The evening served up some of the show’s most memorable music, favorite characters and actors and a special reading of an episode that never quite made it to air.

The night felt like a gathering of old friends you haven’t seen in a while, but still remain close, as the cast laughed and loved together, answered some of the show’s biggest questions and remembered a time in their lives that felt unparalleled. Here are some notable moments from the reunion that everyone is talking about.

Issa Rae Raps About Broken Pu**y

Taking us right back to the first episode of Insecure, Issa Rae performed “Broken Pu**y” at an open mic night over an instrumental track of Kelis’ “Bossy.” The song is about her best friend Molly (played by Yvonne Orji), who struggles to keep a boyfriend. Of course, hashing out your friend’s man troubles — especially in public — is always gonna come back and bite you in the … behind, which is what does for Issa a few episodes later. But on this night, everyone was vibing to the beat, with each cast member coming out with their own headlining hit. Warning: These songs are definitely NSFW.

@buuutwhy It was so much fun! Loved seeing everyone that played a part to make Insecure such a memorable show! #issarae #yvonneorji #insecure #inglewood #comedy @HBO ♬ original sound – Nat

@mmcn_117 TOO LITTTT #insecurehbo #yvonneorji #youtubetheater #issarae #prenticepenny ♬ original sound – M

Surprise guests abound

After the Insecure tour was canceled, Rae promised the one-night-only reunion would be epic. And it was. The night included series and guest stars Natasha Rothwell, Kendrick Sampson, Christina Elmore, Sarunas Jackson, Neil Brown Jr., Wade Allain Marcus and more. The breadth of the cast meant some of the series’ biggest questions could be answered. And they did: Rothwell’s Kelli getting tased; who was in an open marriage, just to name a few. Yup, it all got laid out.

@blackboywrites Insecure 10 year reunion. 🖤 #insecurehbo #issarae ♬ original sound – Mike Gauyo

An alternate original ending?

We know how Insecure ended… or did we? At the reunion, the cast did an alternate table read for the series’ finale, which was how the series was going to end, but Rae and Prentiss decided to change it two weeks before the finale started shooting. Rae later shared that having the characters travel to Morocco felt a little too fantastical, so they changed it to a more grounded, authentic Los Angeles time jump. In last night’s table read, it was revealed that Issa Dee ended up with Nathan (Kendrick Sampson), and they had a baby, giving the Nathan hive the closure they so desperately craved. Lawrence (Jay Ellis) got a new girlfriend and Condola (Christina Elmore) got a new man, while she and Lawrence co-parent Elijah. Would this have been a more satisfying ending for the series than the one that aired on December 26, 2021? Fans can hash it out.

@be_euniqueee

10 years of Insecure ✨ The tour was cancelled… but LA still got a reunion show

♬ Through The Wire Instrumental – Cliffmakesmusic

Watch all five seasons of Insecure on HBO.

In just a few hours, the cast of Insecure will gather at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Insecure, which launched on HBO a decade ago on October 9. Featuring Issa Rae, Natasha Rothwell, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis and Prentice Penny, there are sure to be plenty of cameos, tacos, drinks, and a block party vibe.

Our Editorial Director Savanah Taylor, shared what the show meant to her back when it played its finale episode in 2021, words that sill ring true today. Here, we revisit those timely words.

Insecure has meant a lot of things to many people—and even more to Black culture. Over five seasons, the phenomenon has tackled everything from the struggle to find one’s purpose to reckoning with the ups and downs of love and friendship. Issa Dee (played by Issa Rae) and her homegirls illuminated the intricacies and complexities of Black womanhood while navigating varying definitions of Blackness. It was messy AF, hella cringe at times—but oh so Black.

Most importantly, Insecure was ours. It belonged to us in a way that a lot of mainstream TV shows have not. Incorporating our vernacular and cultural norms in a tasteful yet authentic way, Insecure has earned its spot among great Black sisterhood stories like Girlfriends, Living Single and Waiting to Exhale.

Each half-hour episode breathed new life into the promise of what stepping into peak #BlackGirlMagic could be at a time when many of us needed it most. Instead of turning to white girl-centric coming-of-age stories, we turned to the lives of Issa, Molly, Kelli and Tiffany, played by Rae, Yvonne Orji, Natasha Rothwell and Amanda Seales, respectively.

If you’re really about that life and have been along for the ride since day one, you’ll recall that seeing Issa Rae transition from her Awkward Black Girl era on YouTube to television was euphoric and, honestly, extremely cathartic. Having built a solid following through various web series on the channel “Issa Rae Presents,” she was no stranger to creating content that highlighted Black folks of differing backgrounds in comedic but relatable ways.

So when news broke that she would be bringing her creative genius to television—HBO, at that—there was no question that she was gonna shake things up for real.

Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing in life as each season played out. When the series began in 2016, I was a freshman in college, dreaming of someday finding myself among the ranks of dope and powerful Black women but often unsure of my own potential.

Since then, the show has become a symbol of hope and aspiration for what my future as a Black woman could hold. It showed me that there was no master manual for being on my grown Black woman sh*t and that, while it’s an individual journey, it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.

As I connect the growth of my close circle to the journey Issa and her friends have taken over five seasons, I recognize how deeply this representation has shaped my development and that of those around me. Whether relating to the microaggressions experienced at a “We Got Y’all” type of job, feeling the disappointment of a relationship gone awry or deciphering the sting of childhood wounds, each season was a balm for chaotic moments on life’s roller coaster. It provided solace to know that I was not the only one experiencing them.

The bond Insecure fans have with one another is not a game. The community the show created among its viewers helped solidify its place as a modern-day Black cult classic before our eyes. What other TV show has so successfully and intentionally recreated moments of Black joy in real life?

From recapping Issa’s very questionable decisions with friends and live-tweeting with strangers about still being Team Lawrence in 2021 to attending Insecure Fest or putting our partners—even our parents—onto the show, you can go almost anywhere and see the real-life manifestations of its commitment to magnifying Black excellence.

In 2018, I even ran through the streets of Harlem and waited in line for hours with my cousin during a Twitter-based scavenger hunt that led to a screening of the opening episode of season three. Let it be known that I don’t just run through anybody’s streets, but I did for Issa and the promise of a masterfully done season—which did not disappoint.

The show’s influence on our culture is undeniable and will continue to permeate our community for decades to come.

When speaking about the nostalgia of Insecure, one would be remiss not to mention the wild assortment of personalities and scenarios that mirrored our own lives. To keep it 100%, Issa Dee made mirror talk sexy. That did a lot for my anxiety, helping me process my decisions unapologetically and talk myself down off a ledge.

Simultaneously, the show found comedy in—and romanticized—Black success and Black life in a way I’d never seen, especially with the help of its sonically spectacular soundtrack.

The weekly updated Spotify playlist, with its beautiful range of ratchet-to-soulful tracks, has been a chef’s kiss. Each track captured the moment it accompanied while allowing me to cinematically visualize my own life through the diverse genres on display.

Seeing each character’s growth over five seasons has also been exceptional—a low-key miracle. They have taken us for a ride, chile, and tugged on all our heartstrings.

Issa navigating her romantic ties with Daniel, Lawrence, Nathan and TSA Bae; Molly figuring out her dynamics with Dro, Andrew and Taurean; Condola—and all her given nicknames—dealing with Lawrence and their new baby; Tiffany and Derek figuring it out as new parents. We’ve been through a lot with these folks and, at times, thought we wouldn’t recover from the emotional toll of their experiences.

But we’ve made it. Regardless of the shenanigans, Insecure made me feel unafraid of not knowing exactly what my future held or how to navigate it, as long as I stayed true to myself and did what was best for me.

Insecure was not perfect, but it taught us, as Black people, that we didn’t have to be either to be worthy of joy, success, love, friendship and life.

While all good things must, unfortunately, come to an end, we have to remember the legacy, okay?! With one last episode in store, along with a documentary highlighting the series’ impact, there’s no doubt that all the feels will be felt.

Here’s to dedicating one last Sunday to a show that shifted the culture and let us know that our fears, hopes and dreams—no matter how insecure we may be about them—are valid and worth fighting for.

America has developed a peculiar relationship with grace. We invoke it when a promising young man’s future hangs in the balance, when a prestigious institution has a reputation to protect, or when accountability threatens someone whose name carries influence. Yet for survivors seeking to be heard, and for Black people whose innocence has too often been treated as negotiable, that generosity can be painfully difficult to find. The question is who gets the benefit of our humanity before we even consider the facts. In October 2024, a twenty-year-old student entered a fraternity house at Cornell University. According to her account, the hours that followed would change her life.

The Wall Street Journal’s report of the lawsuit says she alleges that members of Chi Phi gave her drugs and alcohol and that several sexually assaulted her. She says a message inviting others into the room circulated while the alleged assaults were taking place. She also described a fraternity group chat in which more than fifty young men reportedly received that invitation. The responses, as reported, raise a question that extends well beyond Cornell: how does a room full of people become a community of witnesses without anyone choosing to intervene? As far as the public reporting establishes, none of the recipients called for help.

Filing her lawsuit publicly changed the institutional response. The prosecutor announced plans to reopen the matter, the governor transferred it to the state attorney general, and Cornell trustees commissioned an outside review of the university’s handling of sexual assault. The sudden urgency invites scrutiny of the nearly two years that preceded it. What had been insufficient to compel action when shared privately became impossible to ignore once it threatened public confidence.

A year after the Cornell incident, a woman at Louisiana State University reported that a football player raped her in his dorm room. LSU’s Title IX process found him responsible for ‘forcible rape,’ but the disciplinary outcome changed on appeal. According to ESPN’s reporting, the appeals judge called the suspension “exceedingly harsh” and described the conduct as “an error in judgment.” The finding remained, while the sanction became probation. A local criminal investigation began after the woman spoke publicly on social media.

Neither case has resulted in criminal charges at the time of this reporting, and the accused deny wrongdoing. Still, these cases expose an uncomfortable pattern in how institutions respond to allegations and how survivors are expected to trust processes that can be opaque and reluctant.

The Grace We Ration: A Culture of Doubt

Rape culture thrives in the space between what we claim to condemn and what we are willing to excuse. It is reinforced through language that minimizes violence, social circles that reward silence, and institutions more concerned with protecting their reputations than confronting the harm occurring within them. It takes shape in fraternity group chats where alleged violence becomes a spectacle, disciplinary proceedings where serious findings are reduced to poor judgment, and investigations that reach conclusions before survivors are given the opportunity to tell their stories.

Perhaps its most enduring feature is how quickly scrutiny shifts to the person reporting the harm.

What was she drinking? Why was she there? Why did she wait? Why is she speaking publicly now? These questions have become so familiar that we rarely interrogate what they reveal about our collective understanding of sexual violence. At Cornell, a prosecutor characterized Jane Doe’s participation as “voluntary, conscious and consensual” without ever interviewing her. The institution tasked with examining her allegations had already concluded without hearing her account firsthand.

America has developed an expansive vocabulary of redemption for men whose credentials suggest promise. Their academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, family backgrounds, and professional prospects become central to how we understand their actions. We hear about the futures they might lose, the people who believe in them, and the possibility that one terrible decision could overshadow everything they have worked to achieve. Meanwhile, the people reporting harm are often left fighting to have their experiences acknowledged with the same depth and consideration.

Beneath these cases lies a broader question about who benefits from complexity in American society. Whose actions are understood within the context of their upbringing, accomplishments, and potential? Whose character is allowed to remain multidimensional after serious wrongdoing? And whose credibility must withstand relentless examination before we extend the same consideration to their humanity?

The answers reveal how privilege influences our understanding of innocence, accountability, and redemption. 

Grace, mercy, and rehabilitation remain essential to any meaningful understanding of justice. Yet we must confront the uncomfortable reality that these principles have never been distributed equally. When social standing determines whose behavior receives context, whose future warrants protection, and whose account is presumed credible, grace becomes entangled with the very hierarchies that justice is supposed to challenge.

The Architecture of Prestige and the Cost of Accountability

Prestige carries power far beyond the institutions that confer it. At the intersection of wealth, whiteness, collegiate athletics, and Greek life lies an influential network that can shape public perception, protect reputations, and influence how accountability unfolds. Elite universities have powerful alums, athletic programs generate enormous financial capital, and fraternities cultivate relationships that reach into courtrooms, boardrooms, and political offices. Together, these structures raise difficult questions about whose interests institutions ultimately protect.

For many Americans facing criminal accusations, proceedings unfold publicly with limited resources and little control over the narrative. Within elite institutions, disciplinary processes often operate behind closed doors, surrounded by legal counsel and institutional protections. While confidentiality serves legitimate purposes, particularly for survivors, it can also obscure whether consequences reflect the seriousness of institutional findings.

Cornell illustrates this tension. As The 19th has reported, allegations involving fraternity members have prompted criticism of university leadership and questions about institutional accountability. Cornell maintains that some students were expelled, but limited transparency has left broader concerns unresolved. A 2017 study from Georgetown Law’s Center on Poverty and Inequality found that adults perceive Black girls as less innocent and less deserving of protection than their white peers. Perceptions like those have implications long after childhood, especially in institutions where survivors must persuade authorities that their pain merits attention. The historical willingness to criminalize Black men without adequate evidence has coexisted with a refusal to protect Black women from violence. Both are expressions of a system that too often lets status decide whose humanity is legible.

But policy alone cannot dismantle the culture surrounding sexual violence. Understanding consent must be accompanied by the courage to intervene when peers engage in harmful behavior. Young men must be prepared to challenge the social expectations that reward silence.

The media also bears responsibility because language, photographs, and biographical framing shape whose innocence is presumed and whose humanity is considered. 

The Grace We Owe

Somewhere, a young woman is considering whether to report an assault. Stories like those emerging from Cornell and LSU may shape her decision, where the pursuit of answers has involved public exposure and contested institutional responses. She may wonder whether her account will be heard carefully, whether she will receive truthful information, and whether the person she names will be granted a measure of humanity that she herself must fight to receive.

In All About Love: New Visions, bell hooks wrote, “There can be no love without justice.” Her words invite us to consider what care and responsibility look like when institutions confront harm. Grace without accountability can protect the powerful; accountability without fairness can reproduce the same injustices it claims to correct. A culture committed to justice must examine both possibilities with equal seriousness.

America’s challenge is to make grace less dependent on a surname, a jersey, a fraternity, or the assumptions attached to race and gender. That requires listening carefully to survivors, thoroughly investigating allegations, safeguarding due process, and refusing to let prestige determine a person’s credibility. Our measure of justice is what we are willing to do when the truth is inconvenient, and the people who need protection have little power to demand it.

On October 8, 2026, actress and philanthropist Viola Davis announced her partnership with pharmaceutical company GSK to encourage adults over 50 to pay closer attention to their health in light of her shingles diagnosis. 

Shingles is a medical condition that impacts the nerve endings under the skin primarily in those 50 years old or older due to the immune system weakening as people age. According to Mayo Clinic, the same virus that causes chickenpox is what can show up years later as shingles. The viral infection is often characterized as a painful, itchy, or tingling skin rash that materializes as blisters on the skin. Often, the rash is associated with an inflamed redness on the skin, but shingles presents differently on darker skin. Experts suggest noting areas of skin that burn or sting, small bumps that are pink, grayish, dark brown, or purple. Affected areas may also present as bumps that evolve into clusters of blisters filled with puss.

While the condition isn’t life-threatening or contagious, reports of the condition have accounted for extensive amounts of pain along with a fever, headache, and fatigue depending on how the condition shows up in one’s body. While the rash may come and go, it’s important to take heed in real time when it’s happening to receive medical support. 

“I came face to face with one of those realities: my increased risk for shingles. Sure you’ve heard of shingles and may think it won’t happen to you, but don’t be like me. 99% of adults 50 years and older already have the virus that causes shingles inside their body. 1 in 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime […] So, if you’re over 50 and feel great. I’m glad you do, but continuing to feel that way means investing in your health,” expressed Davis during her infomercial video with GSK.  

During an appearance on TODAY with Jenna and Sheinelle, Davis dove deeper into her diagnosis and her partnership with GSK. “It manifests because I live on stress and I was living on stress and then all of a sudden I had blisters and it started on my stomach and wrapped around my back—extremely painful nerve pain. And then it went away and then it reappeared on my upper back. Nine out of ten pain, easy. Debilitating enough to just stay in bed all day, and then I didn’t do anything. It’s like I go to the doctor for colonoscopy, mammogram, pap smears but I didn’t go for this blistering rash. Then when I finally went to the doctor, they said well Viola you’re over 50 you know your immune system changes and you find out 1 out of 3 people have it and they tell you what your risk is and what to do to prevent it,” 

Statistics show that shingles is forty to fifty percent less common for Black people, but the 99% Davis refers to is specifically regarding adults born before 1980. Beyond taking care of yourself, it’s essential to listen to your body as changes arise and advocate for answers with your medical provider, especially if you are someone with a history of having chickenpox.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has never shied away from acknowledging how the city’s diversity is an asset, a strength, and can serve as a guide for how to govern. This diversity seemed front of mind when he selected his senior cabinet leaders, who represent a wide range of identities, including a seemingly intentional investment in Blackness. EBONY was introduced to a few senior leaders of this administration who shared their views on the importance of community investment and how they, as Black leaders, are unafraid to lean into their identities to drive change for good.  EBONY had the chance to speak to some of those in his cabinet, who bring both their expertise and their Black identities to the table, on how this investment doesn’t detract from their roles, but adds to their qualifications and makes for a more well-rounded cabinet for the people of the city of New York.

“Representation is where that work starts, but not where it ends,” Mayor Mamdani said. “New Yorkers deserve a City Hall where they can see themselves reflected in the people who serve them, and where their struggles are met not just with recognition, but with action. I am honored to serve alongside these exceptional public servants, whose expertise strengthens our work every day.”

These sentiments seem to resonate with both New York citizens and the officials in the cabinet. For Taylor Brown, Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, she continues to reflect a broad palette of diversity, and expresses a passion and hope that New Yorkers should feel optimistic about their futures. “We have an Administration full of accomplished people who represent them, who look like them, who care about them, and so many of us have come to this work because of our passion for our communities, the issues, and our shared lived experiences,” she told EBONY. “It truly presents the opportunity for the transformational change we need, not only in New York, but across the nation.” 

The Mamdani administration has become notorious across the city and, honestly, across the country for swiftly making material changes to people’s quality of life. The mayor has shown a willingness to “call out challenges and then find new and innovative ways to solve them,” as Kamar Samuels, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, puts it. From filling over 200,000 potholes to repairing water fountains reported broken via TikTok, these steps are building a foundation of trust between the people and their local government.  “We are creating more robust engagement structures for district conversations about our schools and why we are committed to improving turnout for our Community and Citywide Education Council elections this spring. When we empower our parents, our children benefit,” Samuels said. 

As a former teacher and principal, the main goal is to listen to what the community wants to see change and can then lead to success. “Success looks like every child attending a safe, academically rigorous, truly integrated school—and ensuring families can readily access those schools,” Samuels told EBONY. “Truly integrated” in this statement is defined as a school that allows students to have both challenge and community, instead of having to choose between one or the other as many students and families have had to do.

While everyday improvements are wonderful, that block of trust is only a stepping stone toward long-lasting, meaningful change. Renita Francois,  inaugural Deputy Mayor for Community Safety, has a goal to ensure that the concept of safety is being approached from all angles. “This office is important now because New Yorkers are asking for more than crisis management. They want a city that addresses the root causes of harm and builds safety that people can feel in their everyday lives.”

Not only has the diversity across his cabinet members accurately represented the melting pot that makes up its constituency, but it has also provided a lens through which some of the most archaic or harmful systems can be reworked. 

While many of these cabinet members are dedicated to building systems that lead to more equitable, affordable, and safe communities, they also ensure they don’t ignore the present. The aforementioned building blocks toward safer roads and parks are not the only changes the Mamdani administration hopes to implement immediately; they are also focused on improving the criminal justice system and those who are impacted by it.

Stanley Richards has taken on the job of Commissioner for the Department of Correction, a job loaded with historical oppressive weight. When taking on the job, Richards told EBONY that “[The Mamdani] administration made clear that the future of Rikers is not endless confinement, scapegoating, or demonizing. It is safety, transformation, and rehabilitation. Safer jails today. For the future, we focused on building borough-based facilities that prioritize dignity, opportunity, and humanity.” There is an active investment in rehabilitation and creating conditions in which recidivism rates can meaningfully lower. Richards said, “We are focused on innovation and measuring success by the lives that are transformed, not by lockups.”

This intention to “reshape and restructure government to meet the needs of people and communities,” as Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice Afua Atta-Mensa puts it, is an instrumental first step to building the government of New York City to be the security blanket that its citizens deserve it to be. 

In order to ensure that every New Yorker feels assured that no community will be overlooked by this administration, Mayor Mamdani has appointed 20 Black men & women to senior roles across city government: Renita Francois, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety; Kamar Samuels, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools; Dr. Ayesha Delany-Brumsey, Commissioner of the Office of Community Safety; Deanna Logan, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice; Sharun Goodwin, Commissioner of Department of Probation; Stanley Richards, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction; Dr. Alister Martin, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygeine; Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie, Commissioner of the Department for Aging; Rebecca Jones Gaston, Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services; Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz, Chief Technology Officer Commissioner, Office of Technology and Innovation; Afua Atta-Mensah, Chief Equity Officer & Commissioner, Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice; Taylor Brown, Director of Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs; Delia A. Awusi, “Mom-and-Pop Czar” (Small Business Advocate, Mayor’s Office); Sideya Sherman, Director of Department of City Planning & Chair, City Planning Commission; Jahmila Edwards, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs (Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations); Isolina De La Cruz, Office of Mass Engagement’s Deputy Commissioner for the Public Engagement Unit; Dawn Tolson, Executive Director of Citywide Event Coordination and Management and Street Activity Office; Olivia Lapeyrolerie, Director of Communications for the First Deputy Mayor; Jeremy Edwards, Deputy Press Secretary & Advisor for Black Media Engagement.

Kwame Onwuachi Feeds the Coast

Chef Kwame Onwuachi brought his culinary genius to both coasts this past week, serving up dishes as vibrant as the culture celebrated. The Tatiana restaurateur’s menu was a hit at Complex’s Listed event. Presented by Lexus and Foot Locker, it celebrated 50 honorees, including artist Lauren Halsey and stylist Jason Bolden. Across music, art, fashion and sneaker culture, the 10th annual festival, hosted for the first time in Los Angeles, spotlighted the people and ideas moving the conversation forward, from musician Victoria Monét and visual artist Aya Brown to the Free the Youth Air Jordan 16. A portion of the sneaker’s sales proceeds supports youth-led creative projects in Accra, Ghana, connecting the global influence of Black style to opportunities for its next generation.

Back in New York City, Onwuachi appeared in person at the LG SIGNATURE “What’s Your Signature?” Gala at the Guggenheim Museum. Guests sampled the chef’s small plates, took in performances by The Womack Sisters and John Mayer, and explored LG SIGNATURE fragrances before choosing one to take home. 

With Onwuachi’s food sharing the spotlight with music, art and sneakers, culture was served in one delicious bite

Living Legends Honored

Actor and R&B singer Jacob Latimore, known for his role as Emmett on The Chi, joined Atlanta’s Black music power players to celebrate the Living Legends Foundation’s 35th anniversary. Held October 2, the awards dinner and gala honored the executives, innovators and cultural architects whose work keeps our music—and its influence—moving forward. Latimore gathered alongside BET President Louis Carr, Donell Jones, Q Parker, Polow Da Don, Kedar Massenburg, Michael Mauldin and Nicci Gilbert.

With honorees spanning radio, recorded music, live entertainment and media, the evening celebrated the people building opportunities and preserving Black entertainment’s legacy.

Sports Legends Honor a Cause

Boxing champion Laila Ali had a special guest with her at The Miami Project/Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis 41st Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner, which was held at the New York Hilton in New York City. “My son C.J. is here with me,” she announced, referring to 17-year-old Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr., who bears a striking resemblance to his grandfather, Muhammad Ali.  Ali was honored alongside fellow sports greats, including basketball legends Chris Webber and Chamique Holdsclaw, baseball great Andruw Jones, football star Rob Gronkowski and more, to support the organization that aids those with paralysis. Former NBA player Shane Battier received The Buoniconti Fund Award. Gloria Estefan, who credits the organization with helping her recover from a spinal injury, hosted the evening, while Train performed. With more than 800 guests gathered, the celebration raised $5 million for spinal cord injury and neurological disease research.

Celebrating the Words

I was so pleased to meet Ibram X. Kendi, just one of the many luminaries celebrated at the Save Our Stories Supper, hosted by Penguin Random House inside the iconic New York Public Library in Manhattan. Held during Banned Books Week, the private gathering brought together authors like Chef Marcus Samuelsson, educators, political powerhouses and tastemakers who ignore book banning and bravely write the words the world needs to hear.

Fashion Month may have officially wrapped, but the block is still hot, and the girls and guys across the pond made sure we had plenty to talk about. As the Spring/Summer 2027 collections made their way through London, Milan and Paris, the real fashion conversations weren’t happening solely on the runways. They were happening outside, where Black editors, stylists, models, creatives and fashion enthusiasts were serving looks that deserved just as much attention as the collections being presented. And while designers spent the season telling us what we should be wearing next spring, the streets reminded us that personal style has never needed anyone’s permission. From exaggerated tailoring and buttery leather to unexpected color combinations and denim done right, our people were outside putting their own spin on the season’s biggest trends.

If there was one thing the fashion crowd made abundantly clear this season, it’s that tailoring isn’t going anywhere, but the way we’re wearing it continues to evolve. Gone are the days when a suit needed to look corporate to be considered polished. One showgoer stepped out in a sharply constructed gray jacket with a daring asymmetrical opening, matching trousers and icy blue pointed-toe heels. Another gave us a masterclass in mixing proportions with a belted gray blazer, striped sleeves and a sleek black skirt. Meanwhile, oversized coats were having their own moment, from a floor-grazing taupe number paired with mustard-colored shoes to a sculptural brown coat grounded by bright red trousers. The message? A little volume never hurt anybody, especially when you know how to wear it.

Leather also had a major presence throughout the European fashion circuit, and we weren’t mad at it. A cropped chocolate-brown jacket layered over double denim made a convincing argument for bringing back the Canadian tuxedo, while an emerald snakeskin coat worn over a black lace-trimmed slip dress delivered the kind of effortless sex appeal that makes street style so exciting. Another standout came courtesy of a vibrant red leather jacket paired with black tights, statement heels and a glorious head of natural hair. It was sexy, confident and just dramatic enough to stop traffic. Elsewhere, black leather jackets, thigh-high boots and oversized silhouettes proved that a good leather piece remains one of the hardest-working investments in anyone’s wardrobe.

But not everyone was interested in keeping things sleek and sophisticated. Some of our favorite looks leaned into the playful side of getting dressed. A blue plaid minidress with an oversized white collar gave schoolgirl dressing a grown-up twist, while a green striped sweater layered over a bright orange button-down and khaki cargo pants made the case for color without looking overly coordinated. We also spotted camouflage worn head to toe, rugby stripes styled with dark denim and zebra-print heels, and a denim-on-denim ensemble finished with a statement belt and textured handbag. These were the kinds of outfits that reminded us why fashion should be fun in the first place.

What stood out most, however, was the individuality. Nobody appeared particularly interested in dressing like the person standing next to them. Some leaned into quiet luxury with beautiful outerwear, relaxed trousers and understated accessories. Others embraced maximalism through prints, proportions and unexpected styling choices. And then there were those who found the sweet spot somewhere in between, proving that a simple white top, perfectly worn jeans and a great jacket can still command attention when styled with intention.

As Fashion Month comes to a close, one thing remains certain: Black style continues to shape the visual language of fashion, both on and off the runway. We have always understood that getting dressed is about more than simply putting on clothes. It’s storytelling, cultural expression and, sometimes, a little friendly competition to see who can turn the most heads walking down the block. London, Milan and Paris gave us plenty of inspiration this season, but the biggest takeaway is that the best-dressed people aren’t necessarily following trends. They’re making them their own.

And judging by these looks, the block isn’t cooling down anytime soon.

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Jonathan Daniel Pryce

Raimonda_Kulikauskiene

For 11 years, Angel Gregorio has built The Spice Suite into more than a spice shop. The Washington, D.C., entrepreneur has cultivated a community through weekly farmers markets and Black and Forth, Gregorio’s mini strip mall that serves as an incubator for Black women-owned businesses by offering below-market rent. With each new venture, Gregorio finds ways to expand her impact, and her latest endeavor takes a more holistic approach to wellness. The Spice Suite’s new herbal spice joints, which are 100% drug-free, offer an alternative for those seeking a moment of calm without the intoxicating effects associated with traditional cannabis products. After trying the Calm Spice Joint myself, I found the experience surprisingly soothing, easing my anxiety without leaving me feeling detached from my body. For Gregorio, the growing interest in these herbal blends reflects the trust she has established through years of research, travel, and hands-on work in her community, as well as her continued commitment to creating products and spaces that serve its needs.

EBONY: What sparked the idea for Spice Joints, and what did you feel was missing in the market that made you want to create them?

Angel Gregorio: I travel a lot. That’s so much a part of The Spice Suite’s story. I’ve been to about 43 countries searching for spices and herbs. It’s usually how I get inspired for new spice blends. But there are some countries you’ll go to like Morocco, Egypt, India, or Pakistan, and they use herbs differently. And so of course, we know herbs have medicinal properties, but the people I meet would talk about herbs in different ways. Whenever I would say, ‘I’m looking for herbs and spices’. They immediately thought of healing, not cooking. They’re thinking about digestion, calmness, or respiratory health. I’ve been asked if I wanted to smoke or drink the herbs.

And so I’ve always been curious about it. I’ve never smoked, and I definitely wasn’t going to try it in another country first. A few months ago, I was thinking about new products, since The Spice Suite just turned 11. Every year, I’m thinking about what’s next for us. What can we do that’s fun, and keeps us relevant. I don’t ever want to get bored with it. And I was like, ‘oh, what if we create these herbs that you can smoke.’ I love pretty things, so I wanted to make them sexy. I found this girl who does rose petal papers, blue lotus, or chamomile. I started reading up on different herbs and combinations. My team helped me figure out the recipes. I wanted real smokers to try this first because I didn’t want this to be like a mocktail. I wanted the real smokers to test and like it. That was the validation. And when I got that, I was like, ‘okay, we’re launching it.’ 

Spice Joints are herbal joints without THC. What herbs did you choose, and how did you think about the experience you wanted people to have when using them?

Gregorio: We created a few different blends, like the Peace and Love one. That one kind of puts you in a good mood. It’s like, I’m about to go out with my homegirls or my guys. I just want to have a good time.

Relief is the one that has a bit more medicinal properties because it’s really good for clearing your lungs. Calm is exactly what it sounds like.

The newest one is Sleep. Sleep is strong, but it helps with sleep and lucid dreams. It has an herb called Calea Zacatechichi, which is ancient to Mexico. Indigenous people, like the Mayans used to smoke it. It’s supposed to help with blood pressure and blood sugar, but it also helps with memory, sleep, and enhancing vivid dreams. It has been a winner amongst people who have had a hard time sleeping.

The herbs that I chose were things that were historically used. Nothing that I included was something that was new and experimental. These were things that, in researching, they’ve been traditionally used. Blue lotus flower has always been used in rituals and ceremonies, and it’s been used for meditations. Wild dagga, same in South Africa. It kind of dates back to South African traditions where they would do smoke blends with them. Mugwort, same thing. Rose petals have always been associated with softness and having this floral aroma that calms you. Everything was about calming and clarity.

When researching them, what intrigued me was that all the research always points it back to historically, traditionally, or in ancient times. This is something that is new to me, but not new to people who are very much into medicinal herbs and healing in more non-traditional ways.

The Spice Suite has always centered the experience of discovering and enjoying spices in new ways. How does Spice Joints build on that philosophy while taking the brand into something completely new?

Gregorio: It builds on it, I think in exactly what you said — this is what we’ve always done.

I’ve always said from the very beginning, we are not a place to come for salt and pepper. Even when I didn’t know what I was doing starting out at The Spice Suite, I knew I wasn’t going to sell regular salt, pepper, lemon pepper.

We have always been a place where people come when they want to have fun. I tell people this is the place when you want to have fun in your kitchen, or experiment, and you just play. I do the hard work, which is figuring out what the combinations are. The easy part is you deciding which one you want to try.

That has been so much a part of us that I think customers, new and old, appreciate that part of The Spice Suite, where it feels really exploratory. There’s always something new in stock. There’s never the same set of spice blends or flavored honeys or whatever it is in stock at the same time.

The Spice Joints are exactly that too. They come in and they’re like, okay, some of these things sound familiar. Some of these herbs in here I’ve never heard of, but I trust the brand and I’m willing to go with it. I think that was another big thing for me. After 11 years, I feel like I have enough credibility, our reputation is strong. For me, this is a lane of herbal medicine.

I’ve been wanting to do that for so long, but I also know that it comes with needing people to trust you. If I’m telling people to smoke this and inhale this, they have to trust that I know what I’m talking about. I feel like 11 years, 43 countries, 150-plus spice blends later, I know what I’m doing.

What countries have you visited to obtain some of the herbs and spices you use?

Gregorio: Pakistan, India, Italy, Morocco, Seychelles, Maldives, Egypt, Trinidad, Jamaica, everywhere in the Caribbean, all the islands. Brazil, Bonaire, Guatemala. I’ve been all over the world.

There’s a growing interest in plant-based rituals and alternatives to traditional smoking products. What do you think people are really seeking when they reach for something like Spice Joints?

Gregorio: I think people are seeking something they can trust first.

And they are looking for the products to deliver exactly what I say they do, which is aligned with trust. Trusting that if I say there’s no drugs in it, that there’s really none. No THC, no cannabis, no hemp, no weed. I have to explicitly say that every time I post it because people see it and they’re like, “Oh, it must be hemp,” or “It must be something’s in it.”

No. It’s literally just organic herbs that have a similar effect. And so it’s like this retraining and reframing for people. But I think people really just expect to get what our products say they’re going to get. If I’m calling a joint Sleep, that this is going to give them a good night’s sleep. And if I’m calling this one Calm, that they’re going to actually experience some sort of calm.

You’ve built The Spice Suite into a brand that encourages people to play with flavor and rethink how they experience food. What does creating Spice Joints say about where you are creatively as an entrepreneur right now?

Gregorio: I think that it says a couple things. One, it says that I’m never going to not care about us. Creating the Spice Joints was something fun and new to do for year 11, but it was also me caring about what we put in our bodies. Not just like how we season food, but me caring about us for real.

I know we smoke. I know we want medicinal herbs. I know we want to move into this. So if we’re going to do this, let me be the one to lead the way because I know y’all trust me. And so I’ll take on the responsibility of helping us heal in a different way.

We launched last week an apothecary section inside The Spice Suite. An entire medicinal herb section where you can buy loose herbs based on your intention, and they all have healing properties. The Spice Joints were a really cool precursor to that. And I think it just says that I am still caring for us. I’m always going to find new ways to care for us through spices and herbs that are fun and unexpected, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for 11 years and hope to continue doing it.

And the last thing I think it says is that my creativity hasn’t ended. After 11 years of creating spice blends and traveling the world and all the things, there’s always something new to explore and enjoy.

GOAT is starting to become an understatement. A’ja Wilson was named the 2026 WNBA Most Valuable Player last night, her fifth time receiving the award, her third consecutive, and her fourth in five years. Not only does this feat make her the first player in the W to receive such an accomplishment, but it makes her only the third across both the NBA and WNBA—alongside Bill Russell and Michael Jordan.

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The 2024 EBONY Power 100 Honoree also earned the ESPY Awards for Best WNBA Player and Best Female Athlete, and the BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year earlier this year, adding to her ever-expanding trophy shelf. Wilson is currently on the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, where she has averaged 26.2 points per game in the regular season. Wilson—alongside team captain Chelsea Gray—has led her team to the WNBA Playoffs semifinals, with Game 3 against the Golden State Valkyries slated for tonight.

After WNBA players solidified a historic Collective Bargaining Agreement before the 2026 season started, this fifth MVP award only strengthens the argument for the value of women’s sports. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the only player in NBA history to have won more MVPs, with six. A’ja Wilson has said she’s focused on winning another championship in the rest of this series, but she’s also got her sights set on that sixth MVP. With the WNBA at historical heights and a track record like hers, history-making on that level seems undeniable, inevitable, even.