An Oriki Tribute to Betty White: In Memoriam
Betty Marion of House White. First of Her Name. Glorious Golden Girl. Viscountess of Variety TV Laureate of Laughter. Princess of Poker. White-Haired Wonder Woman. Comedic Centenarian. My fellow Capricorn. Not just a goat but THE GOAT. A pioneer that outlived so many of her peers. A legacy full of …
An Oriki Tribute to bell hooks: In Memoriam
Gloria Jean of House Watkins. THEE bell hooks. Second of her name (Bell Blair Hooks was her great-grandmother). Stupendous Scribe. Fearless Feminist. Conscious Critic of Culture. Sage of Social Activism. Towering Thinker. Prodigious Professor. Originator of The Oppositional Gaze. Author of “Ain’t I A Woman”. “To be oppressed means to …
An Oriki Tribute to Yvette Noel-Schure on Her 60th Birthday
Yvette of House Noel-Schure. First of her name. Grenadian Goddess. Sultana of the Spice Isle. Destiny’s Auntie. Dancing Diva. Grand Grinner. Publicity Priestess of Purpose. Michael, Milan and Micah’s Mom. David’s Dame. If “joy” were a person, it would be Yvette Noel Schure. She’s walking light and love, and her …
An Oriki Tribute to Tabitha Brown
Tabitha of House Brown. First of her name. Avocado Aficionado. Compass of Care. Minder of nobody’s business but her own. Donna’s Co-star. Reader of Bibles and trolls. Leige of Love. God’s Favorite. #1 NYT BEST SELLING AUTHOR 🎉 Yesterday’s price IS NOT today’s price 💅🏾. You stole our hearts while …
An Oriki Tribute to Michaela Coel
Michaela of House Coel. First of her name. Ghana Goddess. Storytelling Savant. Cheekbones Connoiseur. Detachment Destroyer. Survivor Warrior. Soft Black Girl. Writing Wizard. Magical Misfit. 🪄💫💫💫 Tonight, she made history as the first Black woman to ever win an Emmy for writing in a limited series. She advised us “Write …
An Oriki Tribute to Michael K. Williams: In Memoriam
Michael Kenneth of House Williams Prolific Performing Powerhouse Cosmic Character Commander Sacred Scarred Sage Noble of Nuanced Narrative Exemplary Entertainer Trailblazing Thespian Vital Virtuoso He made his mark, not just in your roles but in the way he redefined manhood out loud in a world where masculinity seems caged. Beyond …
An Oriki Tribute to Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna of House Fenty. First of her name. Bajan Billionaire of Beauty. Liege of Lingerie. Skincare Sorceress. Commander of Coin. Baroness of The Diamond Ball. Empress of Everything. You said “Bitch, better have my money.” but you didn’t tell us you meant 9 zeros! 😭😭😭 A whole queen! We …
An Oriki Tribute to Zaila Avant-garde, the Spelling Bee Champion
Zaila of house Avant-garde. First of her name. Phonetic phenom. Viscountess of Vocabulary. Bouncer of Basketballs and Big Words. Grand Princess of Guinness World Records. Multi-hyphenate Middle School Maven Celebrated champion. Congratulations on winning the ScrippsNationalSpellingBee 🎉 We charge you to dream so big that you make people uncomfortable. Break …
An Oriki Tribute to Nikole Hannah-Jones, the 1619 Project Architect
Nikole of House Hannah-Jones First of her name Shaker of Systems Rejecter of Racist Regimes Denouncer of Discrimination Pulitzer Prize Professor Baroness of Bucking Boards Teller of History’s Truths Agitator of Academia Frau of Fiery Fros Tycoon of team #TakeNoShit She told UNC to take their tenure, which she earned …
An Oriki Tribute to Sha’Carri Richardson, the Olympic Champion
Sha’Carri of House Richardson. First of her name. Fastest woman in America. Fly like Flo-Jo. Dame of 100-meter dashes. Taker of Tokyo 🇯🇵 Donna of dynamically dyed wigs. Archduchess of acrylics. Liege of long lashes. ❌ Don’t play with her! You bear a big name and even bigger “I’m THAT …