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Bringing the Reverence Back to Black Womanhood
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SISTAHMAGAZINE x OUR TRUE COLORS
Who decided what Black Beauty should look like?
Explore how beauty standards, social media, and industry influence shape how Black women see ourselves… and how we see each other.
TRENDINGSTORIES
A Pen Raised in Pine Bluff-Author LJ Walker
LJ Walker transforms real-life trials into powerful storytelling, reclaiming her voice after setbacks in publishing. From early influences shaped by hardship and resilience to building a thriving network for Black authors, her journey reflects growth, ownership, and creative freedom. Today, she writes with intention—uplifting community, honoring truth, and creating space for authentic Black stories to be seen and heard.
Ena Alese
9 min read
TRENDINGSTORIES
of Charlotte
Stay connected to what’s happening across the Queen City. From standout food and drink spots to can’t-miss events, cultural happenings, and local news — this is where we highlight the stories, spaces, and people shaping Charlotte right now. Discover where to go, what to experience, and who’s making an impact in the city.
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OVER 200+ BLACK HERSTORY ICONS
A Living Archive of Black Women’s Power
The March 2026 edition of SISTAH Magazine is a bold editorial tribute to the women, thinkers, builders, and communities who were pushed to the margins—yet shaped the foundation. The Last Shall Be First centers untold stories, reframes misunderstood legacies, and challenges readers to reconsider who we call “great.” Because what was dismissed yesterday may define tomorrow.
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IDENTITY&VOICE
Katherine Johnson: Indispensable Brightness NASA Couldn’t Dim
While we navigate Katherine’s experience during her role at NASA, we’ll learn how vital her presence was by detailing moments that proved she was an authoritative figure who made a difference.
The Art of Healing: You Owe It to Yourself
In the face of trauma, connection becomes both refuge and resistance. This reflection traces how healing, faith, and therapy can restore what pain attempts to sever.
The Women History Almost Missed
Jackie looked me in the eyes. “You’re going to write a book. Don’t forget me, now!” Her certainty lives on in women like Cyntoia and Alice — whose survival speaks louder than any sentence.
Cyntoia emerged not hardened, but purposeful. Alice walked free with forgiveness, not bitterness. Jackie, still behind bars, carried something just as powerful: hope that refused to die.
Sometimes the last don’t rise loudly. They rise changed, stronger. And in their rising, history catche
Reverence for
BlackWomen
Begins with Us.
Every movement begins with the woman who nurtures it. Every legacy begins with the woman who remembers. When Black women are seen, supported, protected, and poured into — the entire community shifts. The children stand taller. The men lead with integrity. The home becomes a sanctuary again.
SISTAH Magazine exists to restore what was lost: the dignity, beauty, softness, and leadership of the Black Woman at the center of the family and the culture.
Your giving makes this restoration possible.
CULTURE&EXPRESSION
A Pen Raised in Pine Bluff-Author LJ Walker
LJ Walker transforms real-life trials into powerful storytelling, reclaiming her voice after setbacks in publishing. From early influences shaped by hardship and resilience to building a thriving network for Black authors, her journey reflects growth, ownership, and creative freedom. Today, she writes with intention—uplifting community, honoring truth, and creating space for authentic Black stories to be seen and heard.
Ayisha Cravotta: From First Black Clara to Shaping the Next Generation of Ballet in Charlotte
At a Charlotte Post Women’s History Month event at West Boulevard Library, Charlotte Ballet Academy Director Ayisha Cravotta reflected on a career shaped by discipline, representation, and global training. From becoming Charlotte’s first Black Clara in The Nutcracker to mentoring the next generation of dancers, Cravotta shared how the power of seeing oneself reflected in the arts can shape an entire life — and why creating those mirrors for young dancers today remains essenti
The Sister Circle
A love letter to the importance of sisterhood love, often overshadowed by the culture of comparison and exhaustion.
FREEDOM&JUSTICE
The Women History Almost Missed
Jackie looked me in the eyes. “You’re going to write a book. Don’t forget me, now!” Her certainty lives on in women like Cyntoia and Alice — whose survival speaks louder than any sentence.
Cyntoia emerged not hardened, but purposeful. Alice walked free with forgiveness, not bitterness. Jackie, still behind bars, carried something just as powerful: hope that refused to die.
Sometimes the last don’t rise loudly. They rise changed, stronger. And in their rising, history catche
JAZZY JOHNSON
3 min read
From Our Ancestors Hands to Ours.
African American women history from a young girl's eyes.
Britty J
5 min read
The View From The Front of The Class
A young woman experiences the complexities of attending a PWI in a red state.
J'adore Bailey
9 min read
SPIRITUAL&NATURAL
The Women History Almost Missed
Jackie looked me in the eyes. “You’re going to write a book. Don’t forget me, now!” Her certainty lives on in women like Cyntoia and Alice — whose survival speaks louder than any sentence.
Cyntoia emerged not hardened, but purposeful. Alice walked free with forgiveness, not bitterness. Jackie, still behind bars, carried something just as powerful: hope that refused to die.
Sometimes the last don’t rise loudly. They rise changed, stronger. And in their rising, history catche
She Built What Lasts: How Reverend Lesley Osei Is Transforming Leadership for Women Across Continents
Reverend Lesley Osei didn’t build a platform—she built a system. From mentoring women one-on-one to impacting over 25,000 globally, her work proves that true leadership isn’t about inspiration alone, but about creating structures that last. This is the story of a woman redefining legacy, leadership, and what it means to truly have it all.
When Black Love Becomes Ministry
When Black Love Becomes Ministry isn’t about perfection—it’s about covering. After years of mistaking chemistry for commitment, she discovered a love rooted in patience, prayer, and protection. This is the story of a man who didn’t just pursue her heart, but stewarded it—proving that when Black love is aligned with God, it becomes ministry.
MONEY&POWER
West Charlotte High and the Price of Desegregation
At a Black History Month panel, former students and teachers of West Charlotte High reflected on a time when the school symbolized Black academic excellence and community pride. Their stories revealed both the power of segregated Black educational spaces and the cultural cost of desegregation — raising a pressing question: how do we restore the rigor, presentation, and excellence that once defined West Charlotte?
📣 The First Black Women’s Business Directory Is Dropping in Charlotte — in Print!
The first-ever Charlotte Black Women’s Business Directory is dropping this January—bringing 500+ Black women-owned brands into 100+ hotspot locations across the city. In a year where Black women faced record unemployment, this print edition is more than visibility—it’s a lifeline.
The Cost of Giving Until Empty: Why Abundance Must Begin at Home
America’s progress is measured like coming from -98 to 0 — still far from the abundance we deserve. We keep pouring from our gourds until nothing is left for our own households, and then wonder why the village is starving. The truth is, scarcity was never meant to be our economic model. What happens when we flip the script — when we plant beside the well, refill our gourd, and teach the next generation to draw?
LIFESTYLE&HOME
What's This Word... REST?
A "How To" guide to incorporate rest into our hectic lives, without impacting too much of your everyday life and responsibilities.
Matriphagy: When Motherhood Feeds Everyone but You
In nature, the Velvet Spider feeds her children with her own body—a haunting mirror of mothers who give until they vanish. Many women live this quietly, mistaking depletion for devotion. But love was never meant to consume you. Healing begins when you stop feeding others from your wounds and start nurturing from your wholeness. You are not food—you are the source.
Rest is Revolutionary by Ash Authoress
We grew up watching Black women move without pause. Mothers, aunties, and church ladies who carried the world on their backs, always in motion, rarely at rest. Their hustle shaped us, but it also taught us something they were never given space to learn: rest is not laziness. Rest is survival. Rest is power.
BLACKHERSTORY
Katherine Johnson: Indispensable Brightness NASA Couldn’t Dim
While we navigate Katherine’s experience during her role at NASA, we’ll learn how vital her presence was by detailing moments that proved she was an authoritative figure who made a difference.
Erika L Rivera
3 min read
Breaking Into the Indie Film Industry: Felicia Mead
Felicia transforms imagination into immersive worlds, where fear, emotion, and truth collide on screen. From childhood storytelling to award-winning indie films, her journey reflects growth through rejection, resilience, and creative instinct. Drawing from real-life experiences, she crafts stories that challenge, warn, and awaken—proving that behind every scene lies a deeper truth waiting to be seen.
Ena Alese
8 min read
From Our Ancestors Hands to Ours.
African American women history from a young girl's eyes.
Britty J
5 min read
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Black Herstory.
A Pen Raised in Pine Bluff-Author LJ Walker
LJ Walker transforms real-life trials into powerful storytelling, reclaiming her voice after setbacks in publishing. From early influences shaped by hardship and resilience to building a thriving network for Black authors, her journey reflects growth, ownership, and creative freedom. Today, she writes with intention—uplifting community, honoring truth, and creating space for authentic Black stories to be seen and heard.
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Top Things to Do in Charlotte: March 28–April 4, 2026
Discover the best things to do in Charlotte from March 28–April 4, 2026! Explore wellness experiences, women-led events, networking mixers, family-friendly activities, and fun things to do across Charlotte and surrounding areas. Plan ahead and secure your spot.
LaVianca Ledbetter
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Katherine Johnson: Indispensable Brightness NASA Couldn’t Dim
While we navigate Katherine’s experience during her role at NASA, we’ll learn how vital her presence was by detailing moments that proved she was an authoritative figure who made a difference.
Erika L Rivera
2 days ago
The Art of Healing: You Owe It to Yourself
In the face of trauma, connection becomes both refuge and resistance. This reflection traces how healing, faith, and therapy can restore what pain attempts to sever.
Candis Johnson
3 days ago
The Women History Almost Missed
Jackie looked me in the eyes. “You’re going to write a book. Don’t forget me, now!” Her certainty lives on in women like Cyntoia and Alice — whose survival speaks louder than any sentence.
Cyntoia emerged not hardened, but purposeful. Alice walked free with forgiveness, not bitterness. Jackie, still behind bars, carried something just as powerful: hope that refused to die.
Sometimes the last don’t rise loudly. They rise changed, stronger. And in their rising, history catche
JAZZY JOHNSON
4 days ago
Breaking Into the Indie Film Industry: Felicia Mead
Felicia transforms imagination into immersive worlds, where fear, emotion, and truth collide on screen. From childhood storytelling to award-winning indie films, her journey reflects growth through rejection, resilience, and creative instinct. Drawing from real-life experiences, she crafts stories that challenge, warn, and awaken—proving that behind every scene lies a deeper truth waiting to be seen.
Ena Alese
4 days ago
Dr. Blanche Penn: Writing Truth, Fighting for Community, and Turning Life into Legacy
Dr. Blanche Penn turns life into literature—transforming advocacy, grief, and community into powerful, personal stories. From fighting for underserved youth to documenting love after loss, her work reflects decades of leadership and truth-telling. With every book, Penn reminds us: own your voice, document your journey, and never let your story go untold.
Zhateyah YisraEl
5 days ago
More Than the Eyes Meet
I am a living force of spirit and resilience, existing far beyond what the eye can name or the world can claim.
Ena Alese
5 days ago
Exciting Things to do in Charlotte from March 21st-28th!
Discover the best things to do in Charlotte from March 21–28, 2026! Explore women-owned markets, live music, family-friendly events, and empowerment experiences in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Plan ahead and secure your tickets now.
LaVianca Ledbetter
Mar 20
From Our Ancestors Hands to Ours.
African American women history from a young girl's eyes.
Britty J
Mar 19
She Built What Lasts: How Reverend Lesley Osei Is Transforming Leadership for Women Across Continents
Reverend Lesley Osei didn’t build a platform—she built a system. From mentoring women one-on-one to impacting over 25,000 globally, her work proves that true leadership isn’t about inspiration alone, but about creating structures that last. This is the story of a woman redefining legacy, leadership, and what it means to truly have it all.
Zhateyah YisraEl
Mar 18
Dear Phillis Wheatley
They praised Phillis Wheatley's faith and ignored her fire, yet her words survived them all. We write louder now because she wrote first.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Mar 18
A Seat at the Table
Five prominent women in Black History gather around a table, have dinner, to share ideas and stories about being Black Women who dared to lead.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Mar 17
The View From The Front of The Class
A young woman experiences the complexities of attending a PWI in a red state.
J'adore Bailey
Mar 16
Things to do in Charlotte (March 14–21)
More gems just dropped in the Sistah Scene! We discovered a few more beautiful events happening around Charlotte this week and couldn’t let you miss them.
#SistahScene #ThingsToDoCLT #CharlotteEvents
LaVianca Ledbetter
Mar 13
Behind the Mission
Behind the Mission, She has always stood Stood, Steadfast and focused. In motherhood. In partnership. In history. Her story often muted, minimized Transformed beyond recognition, Without recognition. On the front line. Behind the scenes. They all suckled from her breast, From her birthed identity and purpose. The backbone remaining When they forgot their own birthright. She has always stood Stood, Steadfast and Focused And now, She stands focused on her own mission. LaVianca
LaVianca Ledbetter
Mar 13
Things to do in Charlotte!
Hi Sis! Welcome to the Sistah Scene! Whether you’re a native of the Queen City or a newcomer, there’s so much to explore in our beautiful city.
LaVianca Ledbetter
Mar 12
SACRED SEEDS IN STOLEN GROUND: Planted in Theft, Raised in Glory
A faith-rooted poem reclaiming the erased legacy of Black women throughout history. Using Scripture and garden imagery, the piece exposes the roots of injustice while honoring the divine intention, resilience, and sacred calling placed on Black women whom history tried to bury.
poeticblossom23
Mar 12
Stellar Gospel Music Awards Are Coming to Charlotte this August
Charlotte is preparing to host one of gospel music’s biggest nights. The 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards—often called the “Grammys of Gospel”—will take over the Queen City August 12–15, 2026, bringing top artists, live performances, and thousands of visitors to the city. The nationally televised ceremony at Spectrum Center will spotlight Charlotte on the national stage of gospel music and culture.
Zhateyah YisraEl
Mar 11
Why Are Black Women Dying in Childbirth? Charlotte Leaders Confront the Maternal Health Crisis
At the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum, Congresswoman Alma Adams and maternal health advocate Danette McLaurin Glass call for urgent reforms to address one of America’s most preventable public health crises.
Zhateyah YisraEl
Mar 10
Alignment: Black Women, Divine Timing, and the Power of Becoming
Black women have never been late—we have been becoming. What the world calls waiting has been the sacred work of shaping power, wisdom, and purpose that arrives right on time.
Crimson Steed
Mar 10
The Museum of Women Who Were Never on Display
The museum appeared like a memory I hadn’t lived yet, breathing with names the world had tried to forget. As I moved through its halls, I understood it wasn’t built of walls at all, but of women waiting to be remembered.
Crimson Steed
Mar 9
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: Physician Pioneer
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler made history in 1864 as the first Black woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Working during the turbulent aftermath of the Civil War, she dedicated her practice to caring for poor Black women and children who were often denied medical treatment. Despite intense racism and sexism, her work laid the foundation for generations of Black physicians who would follow.
RS
Mar 7
Alexa Canady: A Legacy of Excellence, Courage, and Care
Dr. Alexa Canady reshaped what leadership in medicine could look like. Her impact reaches far beyond milestones, living on in the lives she changed and the paths she made possible for others.
Crimson Steed
Mar 6
Ayisha Cravotta: From First Black Clara to Shaping the Next Generation of Ballet in Charlotte
At a Charlotte Post Women’s History Month event at West Boulevard Library, Charlotte Ballet Academy Director Ayisha Cravotta reflected on a career shaped by discipline, representation, and global training. From becoming Charlotte’s first Black Clara in The Nutcracker to mentoring the next generation of dancers, Cravotta shared how the power of seeing oneself reflected in the arts can shape an entire life — and why creating those mirrors for young dancers today remains essenti
Zhateyah YisraEl
Mar 4
The Fall of Kimberly Bryant: Founder of Black Girls CODE!
Once overlooked, Kimberly Bryant built space where none existed, proving that those pushed to the margins often lead the way forward. Her story reminds us that beginnings born in exclusion can become blueprints for change.
Ena Alese
Mar 4
After the Fig Leaves
Afraid to be naked, I clothed myself in your insecurities to please your hunger, your pain. Your thirst for righteousness; quenched, assured by minimizing my mastery. Bewildered now that I no longer subscribe to the roles you saw fit for me. Reunited with my sovereignty, in need of not your blessing. ⸻ A Companion Reflection The fig
LaVianca Ledbetter
Mar 3
I (16F) Think My Mom Hates Me — #AsktheAunties
When a mother becomes her daughter’s competition, the wound doesn’t always scream — sometimes it whispers. It looks like canceled plans when a man calls. It sounds like, “You’re too sensitive.” It feels like warmth one week and withdrawal the next. In this week’s Ask The Aunties, a 16-year-old girl questions whether she’s wrong for feeling unsafe in a home where love seems conditional. The Aunties respond with honesty, wisdom, and one powerful reminder: recognizing instabilit
Ask the Aunties
Mar 3
My Time Is Near
Being last taught us discernment. It taught us that timing is sacred and that preparation is a form of love. So when we arrive, we arrive whole— with boundaries, with wisdom, with legacy in our hands. We are not late. We were being formed.
Crimson Steed
Mar 2
Marching Home: Black Military Service, Memory, and the Sacred Ground of Cedar Grove
At Cedar Grove Cemetery, history rests in unmarked ground and government-issued headstones. During the Charlotte Museum of History’s “Marching Home” panel, veterans and community leaders confronted the paradox of Black military service: defending a nation abroad while still fighting for dignity at home. Their stories demand more than applause—they demand remembrance.
Zhateyah YisraEl
Feb 28
At the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum, Black Charlotte Tells Its Own Story
This Black History Month, the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum wasn’t interested in polished tributes. It offered something rarer: candor. From the dismantling of Black educational institutions after integration to Soul City’s bold economic vision and Charlotte’s fragmented music scene, elders and professionals confronted what was built, what was lost, and what must be rebuilt. If you want to understand Black Charlotte beyond celebration, start here.
Zhateyah YisraEl
Feb 25
I Know Who I Am
This piece is a declaration, not a whisper—an unapologetic return to self in a world that benefits from Black women shrinking. What follows is self-love as truth, resistance, and inheritance, spoken without permission.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Feb 23
West Charlotte High and the Price of Desegregation
At a Black History Month panel, former students and teachers of West Charlotte High reflected on a time when the school symbolized Black academic excellence and community pride. Their stories revealed both the power of segregated Black educational spaces and the cultural cost of desegregation — raising a pressing question: how do we restore the rigor, presentation, and excellence that once defined West Charlotte?
Zhateyah YisraEl
Feb 22
The Sister Circle
A love letter to the importance of sisterhood love, often overshadowed by the culture of comparison and exhaustion.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Feb 19
Her Smile: A Reawakening
This poem chronicles a profound internal shift: from shielding oneself for mere "survival" to embracing authentic, self-designed happiness. The simple act of her smile transforms from a source of discomfort into a declaration of the inherent power she always possessed. It serves as a potent reminder that true strength lies not in enduring, but in choosing to fully live and breathe, starting with self-acceptance and love. The smile is the first, essential step toward a reawake
LaVianca Ledbetter
Feb 18
Perfect Alignment
Discover a poem celebrating perfect alignment, divine timing, and the gravitational pull of two souls committed to growth, healing and thriving together. A beautiful tribute to enduring, evolving love.
LaVianca Ledbetter
Feb 15
A Black Queen's Responsibility
A vow spoken in defiance of a world designed to fracture Black love and dignity. What follows is devotion as sanctuary—faith, loyalty, and reverence rising where systems have failed.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Feb 14
Today I Release
February often celebrates romantic love, but self-love is the soil that romance grows from. This affirmation acknowledges that growth may stretch us, disrupt comfort, and require release — yet none of that diminishes peace. It refines it. When we choose ourselves with intention, we become better partners, better friends, and better stewards of love.
LaVianca Ledbetter
Feb 12
Honor Our Elders
The elders in our families carry generations of memory, love, and survival in their voices. When we honor them, we strengthen the foundation that steadies us and keeps our legacy alive.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Feb 9
The Curriculum of Commitment: Learning Before and Within Marriage
I swear my college years of thick textbooks, hours of lectures, and long study halls once had me believing that learning was boring—more of a burden than a benefit. It wasn’t until after graduating that true education began, and my love of learning returned. Even more so as I developed a relationship with my now husband. I had a revelation years ago: what if we prepared for the roles we play in life the same way we prepare for our careers? Years of schooling. Internships. On-
LaVianca Ledbetter
Feb 7
Word To My Brother
One brother speaks from exhaustion and frustration, the other from lived understanding. What passes between them is simple but heavy: unity is not optional—it’s necessary.
Zakiya Hakizimana
Feb 6
Before the Ring: The Foundation Before Forever
He traveled two and a half hours to take me on our first date. I was having a terrible hair day and felt anxious, unsure of what to expect. Yet somehow, in his presence, there was calm. An innocence. No pressure. No expectations. Just two people with genuine hearts, desiring to be seen.
LaVianca Ledbetter
Feb 4
When Black Love Becomes Ministry
When Black Love Becomes Ministry isn’t about perfection—it’s about covering. After years of mistaking chemistry for commitment, she discovered a love rooted in patience, prayer, and protection. This is the story of a man who didn’t just pursue her heart, but stewarded it—proving that when Black love is aligned with God, it becomes ministry.
JAZZY JOHNSON
Feb 1
The Marriage Looks Perfect — So Why Do I Feel Alone? #AsktheAunties
The Aunties brought the truth—soft, spicy, prayerful, and free-spirited. Take what speaks to you and leave the rest. If this sounds like your life, you’re not alone. Share your advice in the comments, and keep sending your questions. The circle is open; the Aunties are listening.
Ask the Aunties
Jan 15
When We Remember Ourselves
Somewhere between expectation and survival, we forget we belong to ourselves. In remembering our essence, we reclaim the power that was never lost, only waiting to be seen again
LaVianca Asante'
Dec 26, 2025
What's This Word... REST?
A "How To" guide to incorporate rest into our hectic lives, without impacting too much of your everyday life and responsibilities.
LaVianca Asante'
Dec 23, 2025
Who I Already Am
Each season shapes me quietly, turning reflection into becoming.
With every breath, I remember—I already am everything I need to become.
LaVianca Asante'
Dec 17, 2025
Charlotte’s Power Trio: How Black Women Now Steer the Queen City’s Future
Charlotte is entering a historic era led by a powerful trinity of Black women—Mayor Vi Lyles, Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill, and Police Chief Estella Patterson. Together, they are shaping the Queen City’s future through equity, education, and public safety. Their leadership marks a new chapter where Black women aren’t just influencing Charlotte—they’re defining it.
SISTAH NEWS
Dec 16, 2025
Zahra's New Power
Zahra thought regret had anchored her, until Aunt Luna reminded her it was only a lesson—not a life sentence.
With every mistake turned into fuel, she realized she wasn’t falling behind at all… she was finally rising toward a season she could shape for herself.
Kiyaza
Dec 15, 2025
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