Articles

  • 2 weeks ago | chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders

    Tina Knowles opens up about her Southern roots, raising Beyoncé and Solange, the power of chosen family, and her journey to self-worth in her memoir Matriarch, shared during a moving Chicago appearance moderated by CNN’s Laura Coates (Photo Credit: Marshelle Sanders). A matriarch is a woman who heads a family, tribe or group. She is a respected elder woman who holds authority and influence in a family, community or cultural group.

  • 2 weeks ago | chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders

    On her Cowboy Carter Tour in Chicago, Beyoncé redefined country music through a Black lens—blending motherhood, history, and generational artistry in a genre-bending spectacle (Photo Credit: Parkwood Entertainment). “It’s a lot of chatter here, but let me make myself clear.

  • 3 weeks ago | chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders

    Cultural leaders Dave Jeff and Yohance Lacour reflect on Chicago sneaker culture, fashion hustle, and purpose-driven design during a powerful conversation at The Emily Hotel in Fulton Market (Photo Credit: Terence Crayton Photography). My family influenced my style, as we would often go shopping at various stores on weekends. Some of those eras have shaped my worldview and continue to influence my style today.

  • 1 month ago | chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders

    Mayor Brandon Johnson participates in a panel discussion during the Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers – A Unified Path to Hope and Reentry Summit at Breakthrough FamilyPlex in East Garfield Park; April 2025 (Photos Courtesy of The City of Chicago). For many, exiting prison can be as tense as entering it, regardless of the circumstances. Returning citizens often face a variety of challenges, from trauma, finding stable employment and accessing mental health support.

  • 1 month ago | chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders

    From L–R: Deon Hodrick, community advocate and entrepreneur; Richard Wallace, founder of Equity and Transformation (EAT); Clinton Boyd, Jr., executive director of Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities; and Daniel Ash, president of the Field Foundation, speak during the “Breaking the Chains” panel on reclaiming wealth, power, and dignity for Black men in Chicago (Photo Courtesy of The Field Foundation).