Henrietta Lacks never knew that cells taken from her body would change modern medicine forever. Taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951, her cells became HeLa, the first immortal human cell line, contributing to breakthroughs from the polio vaccine to cancer research and even space exploration. Jay Renee honors the Black woman behind one of medicine’s most important legacies and asks us to remember her name.

Katherine Carson Dandridge’s story reveals the essential work behind Black institutional success. As a pioneering nurse anesthetist at Taborian Hospital, her leadership and service helped sustain a legacy of Black healthcare, community investment, and self-determination.

A Clockwork Red traces the untold history of menstrual care as survival, not fashion. Long before industry or policy, Black women governed their bodies through lived knowledge—adapting, innovating, and preserving dignity under systems that denied it. What we call progress today stands on generations of women who turned deprivation into design and silence into endurance.”

Why Cervical Cancer is still taking Black and Brown lives- and what we must do now

The Self Care Snob explores a holistic summer filled with growth and essential plants.

The Self Care Snob engages in an in-depth conversation about disaster preparedness and emergency readiness.

Jay Rene explores the connection between the Black Diaspora and mental health therapy.

A journey through the grief we swallowed and the recipes we almost forgot.

Imagine this: A mother wakes up in a predominantly Black neighborhood in an urban city. Her paycheck barely stretches to cover rent and utilities, her car is unreliable, and her nearest grocery store stocked with fresh produce is three bus stops away. Down the block, however, a fast-food chain beams its neon signs, offering dollar deals and convenience. This isn’t just her story—it’s a reality faced by millions of African Americans across the country. The dispar

Author’s note: Trigger warning: The stories that are being retold contain graphic and sensitive topics such as infant loss. The current reality for Black birthing individuals is frightening, to say the least. Statistics do very little justice in showing the harsh and unique circumstances Black birthing families experience. While some may see this as overemphasizing black and brown stories and neglecting other ethnic groups' experiences, I must highlight and uplift Black-

As we move through the year, our bodies respond to the changing environment in subtle, but important ways. For neuro-melanated people of African descent, embracing an intuitive, seasonal approach to food isn’t just a trend—it’s a return to ancestral traditions that nourish both body and soul. In today’s fast-paced world, where many diets encourage restriction and rigid rules, there’s growing interest in eating in harmony with the earth’s natural cycles, a practice that helps

Food deserts are plaguing the Black community nationwide. While talks of community gardens are great, they take considerable manpower and time to begin and maintain. Our solution: Work with local churches and organizations within the Black community to provide the resources for indoor gardens to the most vulnerable. The supplies to get started will cost $50-$70 and with technology we no longer need land or outdoor space. Pros: It helps those in need become self-sufficien