Reshonda Tate

Houston

I write books. Lots of them! 54 so far! And I'm a publisher, journalist & semi-actress. To the 5th grade teacher who said I couldn't do it---how ya like me now?

Articles

Ms. Shirley is a Social Media viral star, but at what cost?

1 day ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

If you have spent even five minutes on TikTok lately, chances are Ms Shirley has graced your screen. The 4-year-old phenom-whose real name is Mariah-has the kind of rhythm that makes people sit up and pay attention. From the line dance classic "Boots on the Ground" to her now-signature facial expressions, she has captivated tens of thousands. At first glance, it is easy to smile and double-tap. But behind the giggles and shares is a growing controversy that deserves a deeper look.
Fear can only win if we let it

4 days ago | stlamerican.com | Reshonda Tate

I recently traveled through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which I’ve walked through countless times in my three decades of travel. This time was different. The TSA security line was like something out of a disaster movie: It snaked through terminals with frustrated travelers as agents shouted updates to the restless crowd. I asked one of them what was going on. They shrugged, saying “DOGE cuts.
Mental crisis for kids, Target FAFO, Nottoway plantation burns

1 week ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

I've been thinking about this Texas Children's Hospital report since the numbers dropped. In one month, April alone, 647 kids came to the ER for behavioral health issues like depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. That's 200 more than usual. That's not just alarming-it's heartbreaking. Mental health professionals say this isn't new. It started before COVID and has only gotten worse with the state of the world. Political unrest. Family tension. Social media. Academic pressure.
Is using AI cheating?

1 week ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

When 18-year-old Laila Holloway from Houston logs into ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas for her college admissions essay, she doesn't think she's cheating. "I just needed help getting started," she says. "It's not like I asked it to write the whole thing. I still had to make it my own." But his English teacher sees it differently and recently gave her a warning.
Valedictorian fight victorious in Fort Bend ISD

1 week ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

Thanks to community vigilance and spotlight reporting by The Defender, Thurgood Marshall High School will celebrate its Class of 2025 with rightful pride: two students who actually walked the school's halls every day-Amya Johnson as Valedictorian and Tristan Heard as Salutatorian-will be honored for their achievements. It's a moment of justice, hard-won.
10 children's books celebrating Black joy, history and Identity

1 week ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

In this month's Defender Book Corner, we're turning the spotlight on the little readers in our lives. Books are more than just bedtime rituals or classroom assignments-they're mirrors that reflect identity, windows into other worlds and doors that open wide to imagination and understanding. For Black children, representation in literature is not just important-it's essential.
What’s next? How Black parents can thrive as empty nesters

1 week ago | baystatebanner.com | Reshonda Tate

When the last child moves out, many parents are left standing in a quiet house, a mixture of emotions swirling through them. And for millions of Black parents, the “empty nest” season is more than just a lifestyle change—it’s an emotional, cultural and spiritual reset. The United States has more than 22 million empty nesters, and while this chapter is often framed as an opportunity to rediscover yourself, many Black parents are grappling with deeper questions: Who am I now?
Houston Parks face major cuts under proposed budget

1 week ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

More than 40,000 acres of city-owned parks in Houston are bracing for overgrown grass, reduced security, and stalled renovation projects after Mayor John Whitmire's proposed city budget slashes over $4 million from the Parks and Recreation Department. At a recent City Council budget hearing, Parks Director Kenneth Allen didn't sugarcoat the situation. "We got hit pretty hard in terms of budget reductions, and so it's going to be a challenge," Allen told council members.
FEMA not ready, Kindred's new home, FAMU drama, 'Forever' Black Girl magic

2 weeks ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

We're less than a month away from hurricane season, and the vibes are not great. A newly released internal assessment obtained by CNN revealed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is "not ready" to respond to a major disaster. Let me repeat that: the national agency that is supposed to save us in an emergency says it's not ready.
Chi Eta Phi uplifts Black nurses, advocates for health equity in Houston

2 weeks ago | defendernetwork.com | Reshonda Tate

Ninety-two years ago, a trailblazing group of Black nurses founded something revolutionary. In 1932, when racism kept them out of professional spaces and hospitals, Aliene Carrington Ewell and 11 fellow nurses organized Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. at Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Their mission was simple but powerful: to elevate the plane of nursing and increase interest in the profession, particularly among African Americans.