When the Foster Theatre opened in 1938, it was the second movie theater on Youngstown’s South Side. Its arrival made headlines in Hollywood, with studio heads like the Warner Brothers even writing to congratulate the theater’s president, Joseph Shagrin Sr....
Festival season in the Mahoning Valley has always been one of my favorite times to create memories with my family. Youngstown’s multitude of neighborhood and cultural festivals allow us to reinforce our unique community by allowing us to share our...
As we continue to push for a more honest accounting of the history of the United States, many have found it increasingly difficult to engage in traditions that boil down to a celebration of the colonization that ultimately had such a profound impact on people of color.
I am unable to watch the video of the murder of George Floyd. I cannot stomach seeing it and have asked my family, friends, and acquaintances to not send me videos or images like it.
In partnership with digital publication Mahoning Matters, The Literary House is elevating the conversation and amplifying discourse around race, diversity and inclusion in the Mahoning Valley. Follow us weekly as we boldly tackle issues head on about the greater community. ...
I learned about the wide spectrum of culture, traditions, wars and victories of the world from the tender, yet brutally honest approach of my mother who earned a bachelor’s degree in African-American studies from Youngstown State University.
Just as it would take time to develop and support a young player to compete in the professional football arena, the same approach is necessary for the business arena.
I am named after my late grandmother — an outspoken woman who shared stories growing up Black in York, Ala. during the 1940s. Her chilling tales of the whispers of lynchings and discrimination serve as a guiding principle on how I move in this world as a Black woman.
There are vastly different experiences faced by Youngstown’s inner-city residents compared to residents in surrounding townships. We are disconnected by misconceptions, lack of understanding, perspective and socioeconomic status.
