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By Okla Jones ·Updated March 10, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

A new documentary chronicling the life and career of Whoopi Goldberg is in development from Imagine Documentaries and Message Pictures, in association with One Hoe Productions. The feature film will be directed by two-time Oscar nominee Geeta Gandbhir.

The untitled film will draw from Goldberg’s own words, along with archival tapes, performance footage, and personal materials. It expands on themes from her memoir Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother and Me, offering a closer look at the woman born Caryn Elaine Johnson and the >The Color Purple. Whoopi’s portrayal of “Celie” launched a career that would include an Academy Award win and eventually place her among the small group of performers to achieve EGOT status. Along the way, Goldberg built a reputation for speaking candidly, challenging expectations, and carving out space for her voice across film, television, and theater.

The documentary will trace that journey while also capturing Goldberg’s life today. Cameras will follow her as she revisits and reimagines her 1984 Broadway debut show, The Whoopi Monologues, for a new staging at Lincoln Center. The film will also show her continuing work alongside longtime producing partner Tom Leonardis, her development of new theater projects, and time spent with family, including her great-grandchild. Portions of the film will also document Goldberg’s quieter life in Italy.

“Whoopi Goldberg is a brilliant and groundbreaking storyteller who has shaped the landscape of entertainment for years, ” said Gandbhir.  “I, along with my partners Sam Pollard and Alisa Payne at Message Pictures, Whoopi’s long-time producing partner Tom Leonardis, President of Whoop, Inc, and Imagine Documentaries are honored to bring her story to life in this documentary.”

Gandbhir—whose films The Perfect Neighbor and The Devil is Busy have both earned Academy Award nominations for 2026—brings an extensive documentary background to the project. The production team includes Sara Bernstein, Tom Leonardis, Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Meredith Kaulfers, Sam Pollard, and Justin Wilkes. Executive producers include Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

TOPICS:  Whoopi Goldberg

The post New Whoopi Goldberg Documentary To Explore The Life Of The EGOT Winner appeared first on Essence.

NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki breaks down real-time vote tallies from the Georgia special election and Mississippi primaries, while giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at election night coverage.

This post was originally published on NBC News.

From ABC News 

Two improvised explosive devices brought to a counterprotest outside Gracie Mansion in New York City are being investigated as “an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism,” officials said.

From ABC News 

With the spring break travel rush underway, travelers across the country are facing longer wait times at security checkpoints due to a TSA staffing shortage linked to the partial government shutdown.

From ABC News 

A 2.3 magnitude earthquake struck about half a mile west of Sleepy Hollow, New York, Tuesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has peppered aides in recent days about whether longtime adviser Corey Lewandowski profited personally from a $220 million federal advertising campaign featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was fired last week, according to three people familiar with his conversations.

This post was originally published on NBC News.

Courtesy of Ghostbond By Larry Stansbury ·Updated March 9, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Lace wigs have become a cornerstone of modern hair artistry, yet even the most seamless installs have long faced one stubborn challenge: the gray or white cast traditional adhesives can leave behind under flash photography. Celebrity hairstylist Kellon Deryck, whose client list includes Megan Thee Stallion, Missy Elliott, and Teyana Taylor, has spent years navigating that issue behind the chair. Now, he’s turning that real-world experience into innovation with the launch of the Kellon Deryck x Ghostbond Collection, a tone-matching lace wig adhesive system designed to melt effortlessly into the skin.

“For years it was the same frustration,” Deryck tells ESSENCE. “You lay the lace perfectly, everything looks melted in the chair, and then flash photography hits and you see that gray cast. Now you’re reaching for foundation or powder to fix something that shouldn’t need fixing.”

Instead of relying on the traditional post-install tricks stylists have mastered, Deryck’s solution starts at the source. By integrating skin-tone-matched pigment directly into the adhesive formula, the system eliminates the need for makeup layering or lace tint mixing entirely. “The product should already complement the skin tone,” he explains. “That’s when I realized the solution had to start inside the formula itself.”

The collection—created in partnership with hair system adhesive brand Ghostbond—launches with three core products: a tinted lace adhesive, a lace tint spray designed for both the interior and exterior of lace, and a portable touch-up pen for quick corrections throughout the day. Each product is available in three shades—Chocolate, Butterscotch, and Vanilla Bean—developed to work together as a cohesive system.

Deryck says simplicity was intentional. Instead of launching with dozens of shades that could overwhelm stylists and consumers, he focused on a versatile starting point. “I didn’t want to empty the clip all at once,” says Deryck. “Chocolate, Butterscotch, and Vanilla Bean were designed to blend across undertones and work together. More colors will come, but this is the foundation.”

The collaboration with Ghostbond, a brand widely known among professional stylists for high-performance hold, allowed Deryck to translate his idea into a durable product capable of standing up to the conditions he regularly faces while styling artists. His decision to partner with Ghostbond was equally strategic. The company’s existing infrastructure—from formulation labs to ful rel=”tag”>celebrity hairstylist

The post Kellon Deryck And Ghostbond Launch Tone-Matching Wig Lace Adhesive appeared first on Essence.

By Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN, LD ·Updated March 10, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

If you’ve been scrolling lately, you may have noticed the shift in how we talk about bodies. Once again, thinness is being elevated as the gold standard of health, and in that shift, Weight stigma occurs when body size is treated as a moral failing or a visual diagnosis. It shows up in doctors’ offices when patients’ symptoms are dismissed with, “Just lose weight.” It appears in hiring decisions, in classroom teasing, and in media portrayals that equate thinness with virtue and integrity.

Research consistently shows that weight stigma itself is harmful. It increases stress, raises cortisol levels, discourages medical visits, and can contribute to disordered eating patterns. Body positivity challenges stigma. It does not reject health. In fact, removing stigma has been associated with producing sustainable health outcomes. When people feel safe in their bodies, they are more likely to engage in joyful movement, nourish themselves consistently, and seek preventative care. Fear, shame, and humiliation has been shown to shut down thosedecoding=”async” src=”https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/03/Andrea-Mathis-Image-1.jpg” alt=”Body Positivity Was Never Anti-Health” width=”400″ height=”502″ />The author, Andrea Mathis MA, RDN, LD Why This Conversation Affects Black Women the Most

For Black women, this hits even harder. Black women already face disproportionate healthcare disparities, from maternal mortality rates to higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. Research shows that Black women’s pain is more likely to be dismissed and our symptoms are more likely to be minimized in healthcare settings. We are often required to advocate harder just to be taken seriously. When weight bias intersects with racial bias, the impact doesn’t just add up, it multiplies.

So, when public narratives claim that body positivity “encourages neglect,” that messaging doesn’t land neutrally. It reinforces harmful stereotypes about larger Black women, implying that we are irresponsible, lazy, or indifferent to our health. That narrative is not just inaccurate, it’s dangerous. Once certain bodies are viewed as careless, it becomes easier to dismiss their symptoms, overlook their concerns, and offer less thorough care. And that’s how stigma quietly turns into substandard treatment.

You Don’t Have to Choose Between Health and Humanity

The public conversations about body positivity suggest you must pick a side: body positivity or health, and that is simply not true. We can pursue metabolic health while rejecting body shame. We can set personal goals without stigmatizing others. Health is multifaceted and includes a variety of contributing factors. It includes lab values and medical assessments, but also mental well-being, food access, stress, sleep, and social support. When we reduce health to weight alone, we erase its complexity and miss the bigger picture.

It’s also important to separate personal choice from public messaging. If someone chooses to change their eating or activity habits, that’s autonomy, and body positivity has always centered autonomy. Body positivity did not tell anyone to ignore medical advice and reject health. It told society to stop withholding compassion and treat all bodies with dignity and respect. Period.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

We start by teaching that advocating for equitable healthcare does not cancel out managing chronic conditions, and challenging weight stigma is not the same as dismissing evidence-based nutrition. We can hold space for both.

For Black women especially, this means rejecting the idea that we must shrink, physically or metaphorically, to deserve care. It means demanding inclusive research, addressing implicit bias in healthcare, and expanding our definition of health beyond aesthetics. When body positivity centers dignity, it strengthens health outcomes rather than undermining them. And when we dismantle misinformation about body positivity it helps to ensure that the next generation understands that advocating for body dignity does not mean abandoning health. It means pursuing health from a place of respect rather than punishment.

Body positivity was never about ignoring health. It was about insisting that our bodies should never determine whether we are treated with humanity. And that is a movement worth defending, not renouncing.

TOPICS:  Body positivity health and wellness Prevent and Protect

The post Body Positivity Was Never Anti-Health appeared first on Essence.

From ABC News 

The Wall Street Journal reported brands are now marketing products specifically to children as young as 3 years old.

Should Howard University’s campus be open to everyone? / Getty Images By Bridgette Bartlett Royall ·Updated March 10, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

H-U! You know!Howard University, often referred to as The Real H-U (We don’t want any smoke, Hampton.), has become the topic of a heated debate across social media. A White content creator who goes by Your Buddy Gus on Instagram, recently posted a reel of content shot on the popular HBCU campus in the NorthWest section of Washington, D.C.

“Gus”, a young blonde male who regularly posts fitness videos, has caused an online stir and both Howard University students and alumni are torn on whether his HU content is offensive or insensitive. Gus is especially known for his outdoor fitness vlogs, specifically running and jogging content, throughout the nation’s capital. On February 26, he posted a video compilation of content shot throughout Howard University. The comprehensive campus reel was executed tastefully, showcasing popular destinations on the yard including Divine 9 plots and the buildings where the school’s legendary Hilltop and WHUT headquarters live. He ended the video with a lovely signoff of, Gorgeous Campus! The kicker? The accompanying music was a classic Go-Go tune by Chuck Brown, Hey Go Go Mickey (Live). Gus, at least appeared to be, thoughtful and intentional from conception to completion.

Some social viewers were not too fond of the reel, however. It seemingly gave colonizer vibes to many of those who criticized it. There are arguments that Howard, and any HBCU campus, should remain safe spaces. Clashes such as these might be a direct result of the city’s growing gentrification in a destination once known as Chocolate City. Previous incidents in Washington, D.C., like those related to White newcomers to the city leisurely walking their dogs on a sacred Howard University lawn, offer additional context as to why there might have been to apprehension the reel Gus recorded and posted.

As we dig further, much deeply rooted historical context surfaces. For example, on the campus of another HBCU, Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, the Ku Klux Klan repeatedly terrorized the school community with threats to burn down dormitories and other violent, racially motivated attacks. This is merely one of countless such horrific stories. In fact, HBCUs have faced a long history of intimidation and violence from the Ku Klux Klan and other White supremacist groups, ranging from Reconstruction-era opposition to modern-day bomb threats.

On the other side of the coin, many proud Howard alumni and current students have no issue with the reel Gus posted and some are even in support of it. One commenter offered this enlightening point of view on Instagram, “He didn’t hurt anybody or anything but merely highlighted some of the great things that make HU a historic treasure not only for DC but for the United States and the world.” Another commenter and Howard graduate shared similar sentiments. “Bison pride through and through but let’s save these reads for the yts who disrespect our campus. Not only are our streets not ‘private’ but he is showing love and appreciation.”

In response to the backlash, Gus posted an apology roughly a week or so after the one in question with this caption: “To the Howard community, I apologize for my insensitivity. It won’t happen again, and I hope you can forgive me.” His apology has more than six thousand likes (and counting). Is this enough? Was his apology even necessary in the first place? And how does the reel Gus posted that has stirred up so much robust debate differ from the content of the self-proclaimed HBCU advocate and White ally, GW Sedberry, Jr. who has more than half a million followers on Instagram and regularly films content at HBCUs across the country?

The bottom line: There is nuance here. This incident has ignited passionate dialogue surrounding HBCU culture, Black legacy, gentrification and more. Both sides raise valid points. Let’s continue to have these types of respectful and healthy exchanges about our rich and layered culture. We can agree to disagree. In the meantime, turn up the Rare Essence, pass the Mumbo Sauce and let’s make a date to all meet up and have fun at HBCU Howard University

The post Why A White Jogger’s Howard University Video Sparked Outrage appeared first on Essence.

From CBS News.

Michelle Pfeiffer talks with “CBS Mornings” about starring alongside Kurt Russell in “The Madison.” She describes how she decided to take on the character and explains after decades in the entertainment industry why she still gets nervous in new roles.

By Dr. Nosakhere Griffin-EL ·Updated March 7, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Imagine waiting for months to attend your first booksellers conference with people who run bookstores across the country, all convening to discuss how to operate an amazing bookstore. Yes, it was an amazing experience, but imagine on the day you are ready and expecting to acquire knowledge from these sessions to advance your store, but the most impactful conversation occurs not in a session, but in a hallway.

At the end of the third day of American Booksellers Association (ABA) Winter Institute, I walked down a long hallway to head home and saw Black Bookstore owner of Source Booksellers Mrs. Janet Webster Jones, whom I affectionately called Mama Janet throughout the conference. She is a warm and nurturing mama figure. She and I sat on a bench and talked for nearly an hour.  Throughout the conversation, I found myself listening intently as if I was an elementary school-age student waiting to get the next powerful knowledge anecdote to implement in my life and business. When the conversation ended, I headed home, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how she inspired me to articulate the purposes of Black Bookstore. 

Last week, the National Association of Black Bookstores, which was founded by Kevin Johnson released the State of Bookstores Report. There are 306 Black bookstores in 14 states across the United States, and 36% operate without a brick-and-mortar location. Of all Indie Bookstores, only 8% are Black-owned. The number may be small, but we are impact is mighty.

Our philosophical foundation is rooted in helping peopletarget=”_blank” href=”https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/rB5WCkRVM4Sqlo5AUJtDSGipOI?domain=theyoungdreamersbookstore.com”>Malcolm Little book” and with a smile he said, “Yes.” Then he proceeded to tell me about how his son loved the other book Lava in My Veins too. These moments of connection turn customers into a community, all built on the foundation of trust.

Beyond trust, the Black Bookstore is also a curator of culturally relevant stories by and about Black people. As a child, my mother took me to Black Bookstores all throughout Philadelphia like Know Self Bookstore, Hakim’s Bookstore, and Basic Black Books. There, I could choose books that featured characters who looked like me—experiences that inspired me to become who I am today. I remember buying a comic titled Brotherman, which was the first timeI remember with a Black male protagonist, who was a superhero. And that made me think I, too, could be a superhero. Now, I strive to create the same opportunities for young readers, stocking our store with books that help them dream big.

Some may wonder: If Black Bookstores focus on books with Black characters or about Black people, how do they serve everyone? The answer is clear. As bookstore owner Yvonne Blake from Hakim’s Bookstore put it, “… we educate and teach people about the history that is so often hidden or not told to—not just African Americans—but to everyone.” Moreover, it’s vital for children of all backgrounds to read books by Black authors to counter negative stereotypes often seen in TV, social media, and movies. Through stories that showcase Black characters in their fullness, young readers can begin to see Black people in all their humanity—making the possibility of true equality more real and attainable.

In the end, Black Bookstores are led by people who see their work as a calling. This  work is about serving Black people and humanity as a whole. During the recent American Booksellers Conference in Pittsburgh,  I met Black Bookstore owner of Source Booksellers Mrs. Janet Webster Jones, owner of Source Booksellers, a Black bookstore.  And she reminded me that we don’t own bookstores for profit—we do it to serve. Whether we sell out or sell some books, our commitment to making the world a better, more beautiful place stays the same.  

Dr. Nosakhere Griffin-EL is the co-founder of The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore. He also is a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute.

The post OP-ED: Running A Black Bookstore Isn’t Easy. But The Mission Is Bigger Than The Business appeared first on Essence.