Dr. Ayo Sekai and the Fight to Build a Black Scholarly Canon
A profile of the academic publisher building language, methods, and lasting space for Black scholarship
Influential People
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Someone Has to Be the First: Leslie Short on Opportunity and Courage
Some people build careers. Leslie Short built a life that defies categories. She has been a professional ballerina, an international performer, a theater owner in Japan, a boxer, a marketing executive who helped shape the global FUBU brand, a hospital chaplain, a leadership strategist, a mediator, an accessibility advocate, and now, an author inspiring others to embrace the power of being “the first.”
Between Two Homelands, One Purpose
For years, Chancel Soumah lived in a quiet tug-of-war between two worlds. Born and raised in the United Kingdom to a Congolese mother and Guinean father, Soumah spent much of her early life trying to fit into a British identity that often left little room for the complexity of African heritage.
FunTimes Magazine’s Women of Influence Awards 2026
Some nights feel like a celebration. Others feel like a testimony. Friday, May 22nd night was both the night when resilience became joy, and the night when every story of struggle was transformed into something larger: proof that healing, when sustained by community and commitment, can become a legacy.
Op-Ed | The World Applauded, Philadelphia Blinked, and President Mahama Stood Tall
There is an African proverb that says, “Mgeni njoo, mwenyeji apone” – “Let the guest come so that the host may be healed.” It suggests that a visitor brings more than just their presence; they bring news and blessings that can restore a home to new strength.
When Fear Runs the Meeting
Prof. Cord J. Whitaker suggests that the most influential element in many organizations right now is fear. It does not sit on the organization chart. It does not have a title. But it shows up anyway, quietly steering decisions, shaping what people will not say, deciding what to avoid, and determining how conflict is handled.
Ghana’s President To Visit Philadelphia March 2026
On March 27, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana will visit Philadelphia for a day built around four major stops: Lincoln University, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Temple University, and a Ghana-focused pop-up opening at Brown’s ShopRite.
Celebrating Black Women Who Made History, But Didn’t Make It Into History Books
While names like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou rightfully have their place in our history books, countless other Black women, who shaped America through their courage, brilliance, and determination, have their contributions relegated to the background or forgotten entirely.
The Case for “Rooted and Open” in a Fractured America
Higher education is under fire from every side: families questioning the return on investment, political pressure reshaping what campuses can say, and a cultural climate that treats disagreement as dangerous. And in the middle of that, Rev. Lamont Wells’ message throws a challenge: “If colleges were founded to widen access and form ethical citizens, why are so many institutions shrinking into fear?”
Alieu Jallow Finds A Voice Beyond Sight
In a classroom of 35 students, Alieu Jallow stands confidently, teaching English Language with clarity, warmth, and authority. His voice moves across the room, explaining, questioning, and guiding. To his students, he is “Sir.” A teacher, mentor, and disciplinarian when needed.