CULTURE

Amber Rose explains why she won't teach her children they must work twice as hard because of their race, sparking a parenting debate.

Amber Rose explains why she won't teach her children they must work twice as hard because of their race, sparking a parenting debate.

Zendaya wore a pair of massive, shimmering gold disc earrings surrounded by a halo of diamonds to the London photocall for her film The Odyssey, but the accessories have historians and activist groups absolutely screaming because they are actually 3,000-year-old ancient Iranian artifacts that critics claim were sourced through undisclosed means and essentially looted from the Global South.

July is officially National Watermelon Month—a U.S. Senate-approved celebration of one of summer's favorite fruits. But behind those family backyard BBQs lies a piece of history that was left out of the textbooks. Long before the fruit was hijacked and weaponized as a racist stereotype, the watermelon was actually a powerful symbol of Black freedom and economic independence.

The internet is full of content creators, but only a select few can say they've earned a spot on one of TIME's biggest annual lists. This year, the publication recognized more than a handful of Black digital stars who are shaping culture, influencing conversations, and redefining what it means to be an influencer with a meaningful platform in today's age.