Taryn Finley

New York

Writer at Freelance

sr. culture writer @huffpost/@blackvoices | award-winning journalist | a lil country | impeccable taste in all things

Articles

I Saw My Family In 'Sinners' & Its Success Can’t Be Undermined

1 day ago | refinery29.com | Taryn Finley

Story from UnbotheredADVERTISEMENTI saw traces of my own blood in IMAX on Easter. Watching Ryan Coogler’s Sinners on Resurrection Sunday was more of a spiritual experience than a religious one. My ancestors sat on my spirit as I sat in the theater, and they haven’t left since. The film is about so many things: the blues, folklore, vampires, music’s intergenerational impact, and the stakes of humanity. But it’s also about my roots. Coogler drew upon my family’s legacy for Sammie (Miles Caton).
I Saw My Family In Sinners & Its Success Can’t Be Undermined

1 day ago | flipboard.com | Taryn Finley

A Must See: 'Sinners' Star Miles Caton Was A Child Prodigy On Little Big Shots With Steve HarveyMiles Caton first graced the silver screen on an NBC variety show when he was just 12 years old. Among the many noteworthy things about Ryan Coogler’s …
The Tell-It Report: To Trump administration, protecting Black communities from raw sewage is DEI

5 days ago | contrabandcamp.com | Taryn Finley

In Gullah Geechee communities, a "tell-it" was a designated lookout, community warning system and the most trusted source for news and information. The Tell-It Report is ContrabandCamp’s weekly roundup of the Black stories that deserve more attention — from politics to entertainment. We saw yet another disappointing, but not surprising, series of fallouts from efforts to erase diversity, equity and inclusion.
Serena Williams Expertly Reminds Us That Everything In Life Doesn’t Center Men

6 days ago | refinery29.com | Taryn Finley

Story from UnbotheredADVERTISEMENTLet Serena Williams be a reminder that not everything centers men. In February, the 23-time Grand Slam champion stunned more than 133 million live viewers with her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking Super Bowl halftime show. And though that performance happened to coincide with the biggest moment within the biggest rap feud in years, Williams is crip walking right past the mess.
Megchella Got Cut Short, But It Was Still Coachella’s Most Joyful Performance

1 week ago | refinery29.com | Taryn Finley

Megan Thee Stallion was thee highlight of Coachella 2025. It was hard not to smile ear-to-ear while watching the Grammy-winning rapper make the Indio Valley Desert a thousand degrees hotter during her highly-anticipated performance on Sunday night (April 13). It wasn’t just the fact that her high energy earned her control over the entire audience, or the surprise performances from Queen Latifah, Victoria Monet and Ciara, or how sickeningly good she looked.
The Tell-It Report: A Congressional Rap Battle, Keke Palmer Problems and More

1 week ago | contrabandcamp.com | Taryn Finley

In Gullah-Geechee communities, a "tell-it" was the designated lookout, community warning system and the most trusted source for news and information. The Tell-It Report is ContrabandCamp’s weekly roundup of the Black stories that deserve more attention — from politics to entertainment. What a year this week has been. A lot more happened this week other than Trump pump-faking on tariff wars and playing with the stock market.
Kennedy Ryan’s Books Redefine ‘Happily Ever After’ For Black Women | Essence

1 month ago | essence.com | Taryn Finley

It’s easy to see where Kennedy Ryan’s inspiration for her romance novels come from. On the evening before Valentine’s Day, the New York Times-bestselling author realized she had forgotten her earrings back at the hotel ahead of a Spotify Audiobooks event promoting her forthcoming novel, Can’t Get Enough. Without hesitation, her husband doubled back to retrieve her statement accessory before the event officially started.
Kennedy Ryan’s Books Redefines ‘Happily Ever After’ For Black Women | Essence

1 month ago | essence.com | Taryn Finley

It’s easy to see where Kennedy Ryan’s inspiration for her romance novels come from. On the evening before Valentine’s Day, the New York Times-bestselling author realized she had forgotten her earrings back at the hotel ahead of a Spotify Audiobooks event promoting her forthcoming novel, Can’t Get Enough. Without hesitation, her husband doubled back to retrieve her statement accessory before the event officially started.
Mr. Milchick and the Impossible Task of Being Both Black and Corporate

1 month ago | contrabandcamp.com | Taryn Finley

A lot of what happens in “Severance” feels relatable for those working corporate jobs but still just farfetched enough to remind viewers that the show is science fiction. Drilling holes into employees’ skulls to install a chip that separates their work and personal identities? Scary, but improbable for now. Living in a corporate town that feels like it's stuck in the ’80s with only winter weather and an obvious disconnection from the rest of the world? Elon-adjacent but we’re not totally there yet.
Black writers react to Kendrick, Sonya Massey settlement, PBS and DEI

2 months ago | whatimreading.net | Phil Lewis |Taryn Finley |Julia Craven |Eve L. Ewing

Patrice Gaines wrote a fun piece on line dancing, which has always been popular where I’m from, but social media has caused it to grow in new ways. “That sense of doing the same steps together, whatever dance it is, creates a sense of holistic well-being,” said April Berry, a master dance instructor. “Dancing together bonds us together.”As news geared toward Black Americans shrinks, newsletters like this work to inform our community.