Last night, President Joe Biden received a standing ovation during an emotional keynote address to the recipients of the 2022 and 2023 National Medals of Arts, which were presented along side the National Medals of the Humanities. The ceremony honored 39 artists and thought leaders, including stars corresponding to Spike Lee, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott,

“You broke barriers. You have blazed new trails and redefined culture,” President Biden said in his speech. “You are truth tellers, bridge builders, change seekers, and above all, you are masters of your craft who have made us a better America through everything you have done.”

While praising the artists within the room, Biden highlighted historic pioneers of the humanities and humanities, including opera singer and civil rights icon Marian Anderson. During his speech, Biden fought back tears as he told the story of Martin Luther King Jr. hearing Anderson sing on the radio during her 1939 performance on the Lincoln Memorial. At the time, Anderson was unable to perform on the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall due to her race, prompting then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to arrange for her to perform on the monument.

“He heard the voice of Marian Anderson standing in the sunshine of the Lincoln Memorial, within the shadow of Jim Crow, singing, ‘My country is you, sweet land of the free’ (…) Twenty-five years later, that a 10-year-old boy stood on those self same steps,” Biden continued , choking barely. “His name was Martin Luther King Jr. and announced the dream through the March on Washington. He asked Marian Anderson to perform again, and she did.

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Biden’s speech also touched on the upcoming presidential election, emphasizing the ability of girls.

“I know the power women have to achieve success, and I am helping the next generation of pioneers by proving that a woman can do everything a man can do and more. This includes being president of the United States of America,” he added.

The National Medal of Arts is taken into account “the highest award given to artists, patrons and groups of the arts” by the U.S. government and honors “exemplary individuals and organizations who have advanced the arts in America and inspired others through their outstanding achievements, support or patronage.” Likewise, the celebrated National Humanities Awards “recognize individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities and broadened our citizens’ engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy and other humanities subjects.”

The 2022 and 2023 award recipients include several Black honorees, including principal and educator Robin Harris, social justice activist and philanthropist Darren Walker, visual artists Carrie Mae Weems and Mark Bradford, filmmaker Spike Lee, and musical artists Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah.

“The power of art and matter. This matters more now than ever. “This is a very important time for the arts and humanities in America,” Biden said. “Extreme forces are banning books, trying to erase history, introducing simple disinformation… You are making history. You fight lies with truth.”

Ahead of his 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar reflects on the personal narrative that informs his artistry. As a cover star 2024 issue of Harper Bazaar’s ‘Voices’The “Not Like Us” rapper was interviewed by fellow artist SZA for an article written by author Kaitlyn Greenidge. In an intimate conversation, the artist, affectionately known as “K-Dot”, discussed three elements which have contributed to his evolution and self-transformation in recent times.

“The power of honesty and being honest with myself, looking at the person sitting across from me and learning that vulnerability is not weakness,” Lamar said. “I’m probably still developing that last one.”

Although he often avoided dwelling on his childhood because “it was traumatic,” Lamar admits it was fundamental to understanding his relationship with vulnerability. The Compton rapper explained that his “tough” “warrior” father showed no weakness, as an alternative showing him the responsibilities of “being a man” by working and providing for his family. Lamar noted that his father “never showed any emotion that could uplift the person sitting across from him” – a trait he acquired naturally.

“I learned to experience it without knowing that I had (these) same characteristics,” he continued. “But in what I do, there is certainly no growth without vulnerability. If I had understood the power of sensitivity earlier, I could have gained more depth and greater connection with the guys who were around me in my neighborhood… Our parents never had the opportunities to express themselves the way they wanted. I always looked at us as a beacon of hope (for them).”

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While he’s widely known for the flexible lyricism heard on his albums, Lamar’s music also serves as an outlet to explore his sensibilities. In fact, the rapper reveals that some of his most vulnerable moments have happened in the public eye. In addition to crying during songs like “Mother I Sober,” Lamar says it was the first time he allowed himself to cry publicly on stage.

While performing with other West Coast rappers, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, the star explained that he broke down in tears as the two veterans passed the “torch” to him on stage.

“A burst of energy just came out and I had to let it come out… My tears are online. And now that I look back, I love that moment. I love that this happened. Because it showed me how I could express myself in real time and see all my work actually come to life in that moment,” he added.

Even though hip-hop stays a male-dominated industry, the Compton resident says his musical journey has shown him how to balance his masculine and feminine energies.

“The more I delve into my music and the more I express myself… it’s this feminine energy. This is not the bravado I grew up with all the time. This is who I’m, I speak softly and I actually have to simply accept it,” he said, explaining how he sees music as a form of communication. “Because if my job is to speak, I actually have to have the opportunity to speak with everyone… and I am unable to try this if I’m behind a wall. I am unable to try this with my full manhood… That’s my superpower.

We might imagine of our children as our everlasting children, but their bodies don’t all the time tell the same story.

Research shows that more black children experience the changes and challenges of puberty sooner than other racial groups. For example: Report 2024 of the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard says that black girls from lower socioeconomic statuses start menstruating sooner than average age. AND 2012science reported an earlier onset of puberty for boys in the US, with black boys reaching puberty sooner than other groups.

That’s why Redd is publishing his latest book “The Real Body Manual”, designed to facilitate conversations about puberty. Known for her groundbreaking work on body literacy, Redd’s latest book tackles the complexities of adolescence with cultural sensitivity, providing a photographic guide to the body that features medically accurate information.

The problem of early puberty in black girls

One of the key issues Redd raises is the phenomenon of black girls particularly experiencing puberty sooner than in previous generations. Factors reminiscent of weight loss program, stress and possible epigenetic influences are often cited, but they are true no clear single cause. Redd emphasizes that no matter why this trend is happening, it highlights the need for early and honest discussions about body changes.

Redd, a Harvard graduate, mother of two and former Miss Virginia pageant winner who grew up in the state, says it is important to understand the nuances of “body talk” in African-American families. In many households, there could also be a generational discomfort with discussing body changes, often due to past trauma or cultural taboos. Redd believes breaking the silence is crucial.

“My mother, bless her heart, she is the most prim and proper Southern woman on the entire planet. She’s just adorable. She was very nervous (about the book),” Redd explains, noting that she selected to include the photos in the textbook for the sake of providing medically credible visuals explaining every thing from sexually transmitted diseases to growing pains. The book features multicultural photographs that show how body condition manifests itself otherwise on different skin tones, making it more accessible and accessible to Black youth.

How parents take care of adolescence

For parents scuffling with the considered their children growing up, Redd offers a straightforward message: knowledge is power. While it could not lessen the emotional impact of seeing your child mature, there may be a way of pride in watching your child grow. She encourages parents to educate themselves with their children, noting that her book is meant for each parents and young people.

How to talk to children about puberty

1. Start early: Start the conversation as soon as kids start showing curiosity about their bodies. Use age-appropriate language.
2. Use correct terminology: Terms like “vagina”, “penis” and “breasts” ought to be standardized from the starting. This helps remove stigma and promotes a healthier understanding. You haven’t got to use cute nicknames to discuss body parts or discuss them with shame.
3. Be honest: Share what changes you may expect and when to seek the advice of your doctor.
4. Create an open space: Encourage children to ask questions freely, without fear of judgment.

Redd’s will probably be published on October 22 by Penguin Random House and will probably be available wherever books are sold.

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