By Jill Nelson
One could ask that question of Michelle Obama, but without expectation of the satisfying “reveal” provided by the game show. Not only are the stakes way too high, but the object of our attention and affection is too smart, pragmatic, in control, and cognizant of history and her own recent experience to fall for the fleeting drama of full disclosure.

By Jackie Jones
Over the past 20 years, cancer death rates for men have decreased by 21 percent for men and 15-16 percent for women, but increasing obesity rates threaten to reverse those trends, especially for African-American women, according to Otis Brawley, M.D., chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

By Carleen Brice
It is 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 and I am listening to Jill Scott’s song, Try, a lot. I’m writing my first novel while holding down a job, and editing an anthology about black women and midlife.

By C. Nicole Mason
The 2000s were a mixed bag for African-American women. From Venus and Serena Williams to Condoleezza Rice to Michelle Obama to Don Imus’ infamous nappygate, the 2000s will go down as the decade of both opportunity and setbacks for black women. This decade retrospective looks at the top ten events that shaped how we view black women in society, our communities, and in pop culture.

By Janet Singleton
Chris Rock’s documentary Good Hair caused bad feelings last summer for many black female film-goers, who felt more betrayed than they did fairly portrayed by the film. Lost in all of the earsplitting debates and viral blog posts, was any deeper discussion of the health implications for black women and girls who use hair straightener

By Rev. Susan Newman
One of the best lessons my mother taught me as a child is “It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” This is how I feel about the looming threat of abortion restrictions being reintroduced in the Health Care Reform bill when debate begins on the Senate floor.

By The Editors
Comedian/actor Chris Rock’s documentary, Good Hair, reportedly inspired by his daughter crying and asking him, “Daddy, why don’t I have good hair?” opened last week to great acclaim. Here, a group of black women writers share their varying reactions and responses to the film and their insights into the perpetually controversial topic of the politics and dynamics of hair.

By C. Nicole Mason
Recent reports on the recession continue to highlight the disproportionate impact of the downturn on men in comparison to women with regard to job loss and unemployment. However, black and Latino women know that when it comes to unemployment, finding a decent job that pays well has as much to do with race, as it has to do with gender.

By Nura Sediqe
President Obama’s words in his June 4 address in Cairo, Egypt have brought a refreshing change in the rhetoric that is commonly utilized when discussing women and Islam. They were only a few simple lines in a long and extensive speech addressing a variety of pressing policy issues, but for Muslim women like myself, there was a pause….while we were all thinking, “Did he really just say that?”

By Esther Armah
We know Ike and Tina’s story. We’re still learning Chris and Rihanna’s. And that of every other black girl who knows Rihanna’s bruises intimately, who has stared in the mirror at unrecognizable features.