Candace A. Gray

African Americans have long been known for influencing fashion through our culture and creativity. Some of the first notable African-American female fashion designers left their indelible mark on the industry through iconic works.  Zelda Wynn Valdes was the first to own a shop on Broadway...

If you’re like me, you remember your grandmother hand-churning ice cream on the back porch in the summer. There was nothing better than that sweet, cold treat on a hot Memphis summer day. Black women are known for making things and making things happen.  Brenae...

As Women’s History Month kicks off, The New Tri-State Defender begins its monthlong series highlighting some of the women who have blazed trails in fields that have not always been so welcoming to African-American women. One such field is that of law.  The first African-American...

The path to making money, building generational wealth and cultivating a business can be non-linear, with different looks for different people. Is college right for everyone? Should students learn a trade, a skill they can fall back on in case of hard times? Napoleon Berry (retired...

Is it just me or did anyone else’s parents want them to pursue a traditional career? You know the ones: doctor, lawyer, nurse, secretary.… It seems those were the most sought-after occupations, given the favorable salaries and access to education.  Years ago, African-Americans’ educational path...

As we continue our Black Men in Business series for African-American History Month, this week we’re spotlighting the security industry. Last summer, following an incident in which an unlicensed security guard shot and killed a Black man at a Kroger Fueling Center, attention turned to...

Memphis’ local PBS outlet, WKNO (Channel 10) and its sister radio station, WKNO Memphis NPR (91.1FM), have always supported the arts. The station has been known to broadcast live theatre performances, interview artists promoting shows and more. This February, as part of its Black History...