Reporting & Bylines
Published journalism spanning news, culture, travel, and in-depth features that center people, place, and perspective.
Connected by Carnival
CaribbeanBeat | January/February 2026
As French Saint Martin celebrates Carnival in February, and Dutch Sint Maarten in April, Melissa Rose Cooper explores how the island’s We Culture museum aims to be a cultural bridge between islands — and between past and present.
Celebrating Curaçao’s African Roots Through Culture And Community
NewsOne | December 2025
As travelers look beyond the beaches, Curaçao’s Black community is reshaping how the island’s African heritage is preserved and celebrated.
Woman’s Killing Echoes a Deadly Pattern for Indo-Caribbean Women in New York
Documented | December 2025
The death of Salisha Ali, a Trinidadian immigrant who was allegedly killed by her abusive partner, highlights a pattern of violence that community leaders say is tied to immigration dependency and historical trauma.
The Black Girl's Guide To Travel: 5 Unexpected Places Where Black Women Can Actually Feel At Peace
Essence | November 2025
Here are five unexpected solo escapes where I experienced serenity as a Black woman, and you can too.
Jamaicans in New York Prove Diaspora Solidarity is Stronger Than the Storm
Documented | November 2025
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, New York's Jamaican community is uniting to support those hardest hit back home.
Jamaica Looks to Rebuild After Hurricane Melissa Leaves Trail of Devastation
EBONY | October 2025
One of Jamaica’s strongest storms in history, Hurricane Melissa left thousands displaced and key infrastructure destroyed. Relief efforts are underway nationwide.
From Ibiza To Antwerp: Black Women Are Taking Up Space in the Places You’d Least Expect
Essence | September 2025
Many are rewriting the narrative in destinations Black women don’t often frequent, choosing rest, healing and belonging.
Black Women Are Twice As Likely To Die From Uterine Cancer
Essence | July 2025
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rep. Yvette Clarke and Senator Angela Alsobrooks are among the Black women lawmakers leading a four-bill push for research, early detection and culturally competent care.
Meet the Women Behind the Caribbean’s Bold New Film Festival
Essence | June 2025
Led by two visionary filmmakers Asha Lovelace and Melanie Jones Powell , the Caribbean Film Festival shifts power behind the lens—ensuring Caribbean stories are told on their own terms.