This post was originally published on Beyond Bylines. From time to time, an industry or subject inspires us to create a best-of list. In case you’ve missed some, you can find them here. If you think your site should be considered, give us a holler and tell us why.
Black media outlets write about issues of importance to Black communities up to six times more often than other outlets, according to “Why Black media matters now,” a 2021 report from the Black Media Initiative of the Center for Community Media at the City University of New York’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.
The report findings “underscore how Black media serves a critical role in supporting and amplifying issues important to the Black community,” NiemanLab’s Shraddha Chakradhar says.
To celebrate Black History Month, we’re recognizing several top publications focused on luxury, leisure, and business for the Black community. These outlets profile the Black entrepreneurs and businesses you need to know about. They also cover news across several industries, including food, travel, and fashion – all while keeping the community central to their coverage.
1. AfroTech
AfroTech is part of the Blavity family of brands and focuses on Black entrepreneurs, insights and jobs in the tech industry. The site is the online home of “the largest series of multicultural tech experiences in the United States.” It aims to bring “leaders in technology and business together to exchange ideas and build a strong Black tech community.”
The site supplies coverage of tech and business news alongside profiles of entrepreneurs and other inspiring stories.
Stories to read right now: Snoop Dogg Joins Forces With Blockchain Platform Gala Games To Change The Way We Consume Music; How Daniel Moses Says He Went From Uber Driver To Millionaire; and 9 Leaders Creating Social Impact For The Black Community.
2. Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine
The Atlanta Tribune is a business-focused publication from the economic capital of Black America. It provides “relevant, thought-provoking news and information on business and generational wealth-building” to its audience of “powerbrokers, decision-makers, trendsetters and go-getters.”
Beyond business, the site offers coverage of technology, culture, and lifestyle mixed with local, regional, and national news.
Stories to read right now: New CDC data highlight factors that contribute to HIV disparities; Detroit Author Shaka Senghor Pens Book for Fathers, Debunks Black Men Myths; and This Area Has The Biggest Wealth Gap Between Black And White Americans.
3. Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise is the destination for entrepreneurship, wealth-building, and business news for Black Americans. The magazine states its mission is to “educate and empower our audience to become full participants in wealth creation within the global economy.”
The site covers business news from across all industries while paying special attention to technology and education.
Stories to read right now: Google Fired a Black Leading AI Scientist, But Now She’s Founded Her Own Firm; Issa Rae Receives the Key to the City of Inglewood, Becoming 1st Person to do so in the City’s 114-Year History; and Capital One Donates $10K to Accelerate Opportunities for Black-Owned Businesses, HBCUs.
4. Cuisine Noir
Cuisine Noir touts itself as “a culinary publication that complements readers’ lifestyles and desire for a diverse epicurean experience” and “first digital magazine that connects the African diaspora through food, drink and travel.”
The recipe section mixes favorites from across the African diaspora with trendy ingredients around the food world, and a special section profiles black-owned wineries, breweries, and distilleries around the world. There also are product and cookbook reviews, features with chefs and entrepreneurs, and coverage of travel and luxury stories.
Stories to read right now: From Cosmetology to Baking, Kelly Simmons Creates Cookie Memories in Baltimore; Tips for African American Travelers in Japan; and Chef Emme Collins: Pleasing Palates Afro-Brazilian Style in Seattle.
5. SUPER.selected
SUPER.selected is a visually sophisticated digital fashion magazine created by a fashion stylist with a fine art background. It’s all about representing Black women – those who make art or are in it, Black women in the LGBTQ+ community, and Black business owners.
The content includes fashion editorials featuring Black models, as well as art and photography. There’s also a database of Black designers and shops.
While the focus is on fashion, the site also has coverage of music, entertainment and celebrities, in addition to news and LGBT-interest topics. The World Travels section is particularly attractive with photo essays, travelogues and images from runways around the world.
Stories to read right now: Melodie Monrose Models Fall 2021 Accessories for InStyle; and 4 Ways to Improve Your Makeup Skills This Year.
6. Travel Noire
Travel Noire is the premier website for world travel from a black perspective. The site has a sleek modern aesthetic, beautiful imagery, and inspiring content.
Going beyond similar sites, Travel Noire includes essays on the personal experiences of black travelers and ex-pats to share a vision of limitless exploration of the world. The site also provides detailed coverage of destinations, food, entertainment, and travel gear and tech.
Stories to read right now: Are You A Foodie Heading to Los Angeles? Patronize These 10 Black-Owned Restaurants; Why You Should Book A Stay At This Black-Owned Safari Camp In Kenya; and Black Bartender Hosts Show Highlighting The Spirits Industry In Smaller Towns.
7. Uptown
Uptown is an online magazine dedicated to luxury and lifestyle for the Black community. The site supplies ample coverage of entertainment and society news and arts and culture stories.
Readers also can find auto reviews, fashion and beauty spreads, destination profiles, and plenty of cocktail recipes.
Stories to read right now: Wearing Locs Helped Ava DuVernay Become More Herself; and Get to Know Rapper Pap Chanel and Her Alter Egos.
Make sure to check out past lists from 2018 and 2019 covering even more top news sites for the Black community.