After becoming a mother, Alliah L. Agostini, a marketing professional with experience in renowned brands and start-ups, rediscovered her true calling—children’s literature. Inspired by her own children, she embarked on a mission to create stories that not only reflected their heritage but also provided representation in the books they read. In an interview with ESSENCE, […]
On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a bill to officially declare Juneteenth as a national holiday. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, which will determine whether Juneteenth will become the 11th annual federal holiday. Observed on June 19th, Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, marks the end of slavery––honoring the date in 1865 where […]
Miss Juneteenth, the compelling first feature from Channing Godfrey Peoples, recently made its debut at Sundance Film Festival. It centers on Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie), a single mother and former holder of the Miss Juneteenth title, who wants her rebellious teenage daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), to follow in her footsteps. The film, which is drenched […]