In The News

Documenting and disseminating news about black grandmothers makes me feel like God sprinkled fairy dust over my head! Truly #blackgirlmagic. Sharing their stories in their many forms (personal accounts, oral and living histories, news, and culture) reminds me that I was made for this. The timing couldn’t be better (or more divine). I can set google alerts to capture when, where, and how they are being talked about and who is doing the talking. I can also disseminate this information using a number of social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr). How are black grandmothers being cast in the public eye? Are they being politicized? For instance, Hillary Clinton recently stated, “Like every grandmother, I worry about the safety and security of my grandchildren. But my worries are not the same as black grandmothers.” Now imagine centuries of worry to this magnitude—hence the creation of RealBlackGrandmothers. Are they inspiring political action? Like Lee Daniels’ grandmother did, making him declare he would never not vote again. Or are they being revered (while at the same time fueling debate) like Simone Biles’s grandmother turned adoptive mom? RealBlackGrandmothers harnesses the power of global reach and digital media to bring representations of black grandmothers to public discourse that reflect their nuance, complexity, depth, and humanity. With gratitude, LaShawnDa