Houston’s own Ali Siddiq makes NAACP Image Award history
I am not surprised that Houston comedian Ali Siddiq took home the 57th NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety (Series or Special) for My Two Sons. This victory is groundbreaking because Siddiq won the award for an independently produced project released directly to fans on his YouTube channel. He is the first artist to win a major variety award for a self-funded, self-distributed special, bypassing traditional platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Comedy Central. What moves me most is that you do not have to compromise who you are to be recognized for your greatness. Ali proved that stories rooted in his roots in the Third Ward, the real ones, the hard ones, are worthy of the highest honors. We should celebrate this loudly. He is not just a comedian. He is a mirror reflecting the resilience of this city back to us. Congratulations, Ali. You did that.
Sinners is sweeping awards season
Ryan Coogler’s 2025 masterpiece, Sinners, is doing something we rarely see: a Black-led, Black-centered original horror film is dominating awards season like nothing before it. 16 Oscar nominations, the most in history, and the film just claimed Best Ensemble and Actor for Michael B. Jordan at the 32nd Screen Actors Guild Awards. This was an awesome moment considering what happened at the BAFTA Film Awards. While Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo stood on that stage with grace and dignity, a Tourette’s campaigner in the audience involuntarily shouted a racial slur. The world watched. And those two Black men held their composure beautifully, even as the moment almost distracted the global audience from the greatness of these two actors on stage. Black excellence on display while navigating racial discomfort in real time is nothing new. I, for one, am here for every moment of this winning streak. I can’t wait to see the cast shine during the Oscars.
Black folk cannot afford to ignore the war in Iran
I was scrolling through Facebook recently, and I saw posts of Black women, spouses of soldiers, terrified about the possibility of deployment. I need us to understand something that history has made painfully clear. When America goes to war, Black and Brown people bleed first. Black people have long made up a disproportionate share of frontline troops, the ones closest to the fire. And when the wars ended, it was Black veterans who were most often denied access to GI Bill benefits, left behind while others rebuilt their lives. The war in Iran is not a distant news story. It is knocking on the doors of families in our neighborhoods right now. Bombs do not discriminate by race, but American policy has always known exactly who to send into harm’s way. It might not directly impact you, but we can’t forget those whose family members are sacrificing their lives in these wars for our safety and freedom. We must demand accountability, advocate for our military families. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Our lives depend on it.
On the web
– The Divorce Doula: Chantay Sanders helps women turn endings into launchpads.
-Demystifying the End: Hospice care impact on the Black community
-Smart ways to bounce back financially after a job loss
