In 1945, a sixteen-year-old girl in New Orleans sat in a classroom and listened to teachers describe Black people as inferior, ignorant, and dangerous. She knew it was a lie. And she decided, then and there, that she would spend her life proving it.
That girl was Gwendolyn Midlo Hall.
By the time she was seventeen, she had already helped organize the New Orleans Youth Council — a bold, interracial group fighting for African American voter registration in the heart of the segregated South. She marched, she organized, she was arrested. She did not stop.
But her most extraordinary act of defiance came decades later — not in the streets, but in a courthouse.
While conducting research in Louisiana in the 1980s, Hall opened an old ledger written by 18th-century notaries. Inside were names. Hundreds of them. Names of enslaved Africans — their origins, their skills, their families, their rebellions. Details that English colonists almost never recorded. Details the world had assumed were lost forever.
Hall was astounded.
She spent years traveling between archives in Louisiana, France, and Spain, piecing together fragments of stolen lives. With the help of five dedicated assistants, she built something the world had never seen: the Louisiana Slave Database — a searchable record of over 107,000 enslaved individuals, documenting their names, ethnicities, occupations, family relationships, and places of origin.
What she found also shattered a long-held assumption in academic circles. Scholars had believed colonial Louisiana was shaped primarily by Haiti and the French Caribbean. Hall's database revealed the truth: most enslaved Africans brought to Louisiana came from Senegal and Gambia — a finding that forever changed how historians understand the roots of Creole culture.
But perhaps the most profound impact of her work is the most personal.
Families — for generations separated from their history by the deliberate erasure of slavery — could now search a database and find an ancestor. A name. A face in the darkness of history, finally brought to light.
Gwendolyn Midlo Hall passed away on August 29, 2022, at the age of 93. She is remembered at Whitney Plantation in Louisiana, where two long walls bear the names of every person she found — 107,000 lives, no longer forgotten.
She gave them back their names. And in doing so, she gave us all a more honest history.
Two Black boys running a lemonade stand received an unexpected show of support after someone called 911 on them. Instead of shutting them down, Kansas City police officers and firefighters showed up to support them, helping them earn hundreds of dollars. This is what community should look like! Investing in our youth instead off discouraging their entrepreneurship. ✊🏿
@DIRECTVhelp It’s annoying, and I did all that stuff. It only works on one of my theee laptops at home and also won’t work on my desk top at my job, and it used to work as little as a week ago. The app on my phone works too.
@DIRECTVhelp what’s up with the streaming from the web on a laptop, not using the app, issue? “We couldn’t play this content at this time” (I cleared ALL my browser cache and cookies and rebooted multiple times on multiple computers!)
I’ve been thinking a lot about the extraordinary outbursts of the President of the United States against female journalists... well, actually against journalists in general and journalism. But it feels like he saves his most childlike behavior and irrational language for female reporters, calling them all kinds of names that kids in kindergarten are given times out for. It’s stunning to me to witness such behavior from any leader, any CEO, any person of influence or importance. I’ve never witnessed someone like this raging, this weekend with @meetthepress host @kwelkernbc, just last week in the Oval Office with @cnn’s @kaitlancollins, calling women stupid or piggy, telling them to “smile”, calling them darling, demeaning their credibility. Every good man should denounce this behavior. Every person should be able to stand up for their colleagues and say “No more.”
Imagine this man screaming like this at your daughter, your wife, your sister, your mother... would you stand for it? No, you wouldn’t! And neither should any of us. It’s unacceptable and undignified. Period. End of story.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Uncle Dean.
Your talent, charm, and generosity touched so many lives. Thank for the music, for the laughs, for everything you gave to us, and for everything you gave to the world. We remember you with love, not just today, but always.
Forever missed. Forever loved.
📸 x Ron Joy
As we celebrate Prince's musical legacy today on what would have been his 68th birthday (born June 7, 1958), we'd like to know...what are your three favorite albums in his prolific discography?
https://t.co/ELrYRFc0f4
I’m so sorry to learn that Peabo Bryson has transitioned. I first met him 48 years ago and found him to be so cool. That impression only grew with time. So cool and so classy. My condolences to his family, friends and fans. You did your thing Bruh and you did it well. Now RIP🙏🏾🕊️
I’m heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today. His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast. He made me so comfortable, as I was just learning to sing in English. He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and his talent will be missed…
My heart is with your family, and may you rest in peace, Peabo.
Love,
Celine xx…
— michael jackson gave us a black cinderella & a black prince charming on broadway, brandy, whitney houston & whoopi goldberg gave us a black cinderella, fairy godmother & queen in the same film & toni braxton gave us a black belle on broadway. my legends did THAT in the 90s!👸🏾✨
The Minnesota Timberwolves are deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman.
Adelman served as head coach of the Timberwolves from 2011-14 and exemplified leadership, integrity and professionalism throughout his distinguished career. Serving as head coach for five teams over 23 NBA seasons, he became one of the game’s most respected and accomplished leaders, finishing 10th on the league’s all-time wins list. Adelman made a lasting impact on our organization, his players and the game of basketball.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to wife Mary Kay, the Adelman family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
My father was a man of strength, love and encouragement. He opened countless doors for me and my brother. He believed in us and pushed us to pursue every opportunity with conviction, he was the rock of our family. He taught us that perseverance, hard work, and unwavering commitment are the foundations of a meaningful life and personal success. I will carry his love, words, and wisdom with me always.