Harlequin 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Publication Date: January 2011

Young, single and gainfully employed as a journalist, Natalie P. McNeal enjoyed a life of shopping, traveling and partying with her friends. Then one January, she had a rude awakening when she opened her credit card statements and realized that she was more than $20,000 in debt—nearly half from credit cards. She had only $1,000 in savings. How did a college-educated professional wind up living like the working poor, she wondered. And how could she [...]

February 7th is best known as National Black  HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. For the 11th anniversary, this year’s motto is ” It takes a village to fight HIV/AIDS, we believe it also takes an industry.” During this day, and every day, we want to let the community know the importance of testing and treatment. If we don’t get tested, we won’t know. Many organizations like LIFEbeat have partnered with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to bring awareness to [...]

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I didn’t attend a high school that was ill-equipped or that lacked resources. Actually, I went to one of the better private high schools in Baltimore City. However, I still experienced firsthand what is routinely being reported as a growing epidemic. Out of an incoming freshman class of 330 students, only 40 of us were African-American. This bothered me a little, but what was more bothersome is that by graduation 4 years later only about 20 of us completed [...]

Life spins people, bouncing them here and there, back and forth, knocking them up against the cold and the hunger, over and over again. And all we can hope is that, while in its grip, while being spun, we somehow smash into our purpose. 25 year-old, Zimbabwean-English musician, Tinashe seemed to collide with his, heart first.

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tinashe’s mother left him in Highfield with relatives, while she fled to England to try to provide some sort of refuge [...]

It’s a popular belief that slavery, migration and destruction has caused a scattering of the things that our ancestors once held so precious. Because of these very things, many Black Americans have no idea of their history and culture. That’s why people like Shantrelle P. Lewis are relevant and heaven sent. Raised in New Orleans, Ms. Lewis has demonstrated a commitment to researching, documenting and preserving the African Diaspora’s culture. A graduate of Howard University, Shantrelle chose to take her [...]

Sitting in front of a quaint little deli in Chelsea, I look up and notice a familiar face. Though we never formerly met before this rare occasion, I felt like I knew her well. This may have something to do with a little thing called social networking and the entire blogosphere. Samantha Smikle, better known as O.M.O Writes, was standing in front of me.

Samantha, known by most as a blogger, is also known for a very interesting accessories line [...]

Go to any bookstore in any city. Ask the lady at the desk, the one with the glasses, where the teenage section is. She’ll say something like “YA? In the back on the left.” Yep, “YA” is what she’ll say. Stands for Young Adult. It’s OK if you didn’t know. It’s been a while since you were a “YA.” And if not, well, maybe it’s been a while since you’ve bought a YA book.

When you make it there, to the [...]

When the topic of the plus- size fashion industry comes up in people’s minds and conversations, it can sometimes erupt into an explosion of controversy or disappointment. Or even amusement from the lack of attention that gets paid to this unique industry. In the recent years there has been an exaggerated response to the idea of “too thin” models and their plus-size counterparts.  There seems to be a constant struggle between what people think the plus-size fashion industry should be and what [...]

While browsing the web, as I often do, I came across an amazing little online boutique called Shrimpton Couture. In that dainty boutique, I discovered a remarkable designer by the name of Anita Quansah. I was instantly taken away to a world of fine craftsmanship. Looking at her work literally took my breath away.  I logged on to her website, www.anitaquansah.com and discovered that Anita, who lives and works in London, graduated from the country’s Chelsea College [...]