For more than six decades, Jesse Jackson advocated for justice, lending his powerful voice to those whose own voices were too often ignored. He was a Black man who worked tirelessly for all people, insisting that dignity and opportunity belong to everyone.
March is Women's History Month, and we honor three extraordinary women whose impact has shaped countless lives.
I spoke with Da Brat and Judy about the chaos of writing their memoir together, what their visibility as a Black queer couple means to them, and the advice they'd give to anyone still figuring out how to love without fear.
Omega-3s are renowned for their anti-inflammatory effects. They can help mitigate inflammation throughout the body, which is linked to chronic diseases such as arthritis, asthma and certain types of cancer.
Black history is right here, in Houston, Texas, and within you. It is biking around the Third Ward to promote HIV education. It is gathering with a group of friends to vote.
In 2016, I shared my HIV status publicly for the first time. It was imperative that if I were leading and serving a community of Black queer men, I be transparent about my status. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and one of the most rewarding.
This year, Valentine’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of Mardi Gras, so reservations, accommodations and participation in some events, could be difficult if not arranged beforehand.
I was born 7 lbs. 11 oz. My first name has seven letters, and my last name has eleven letters. My lucky numbers!
When our president says, “White people were very badly treated,” it’s obvious he has never had to sit isolated in a theatre balcony, or wonder if his medical care was contingent on his skin color, or been restricted from a pool or beach because of a perceived diseased status, and has no idea what it means to be very badly treated.
It will not matter whether you are a liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, when our American Empire dies; we will all be dirt poor and our country powerless after the fall.
"It's a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I’d be a drag queen,” is a hilarious quote by Dolly Parton, who turned 80 last month. With her love for glamour, big hair and over-the-top appearances, she’d have been a fabulous drag queen.
Take care of your heart. Watch the foods you eat. Your heart could be given a chance for many more lovely Valentine’s Days with the one you love.
![Smiling older man with memorial dates overlay]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_JesseJackson-1941-2026-PHOTO-thenationonlineng.net_-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":12238},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_JesseJackson-1941-2026-PHOTO-thenationonlineng.net_-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":17267}})
![Triptych of studio portraits of women]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_Remarkable-women-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":16038},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_Remarkable-women-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":35651},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_Remarkable-women-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":95085},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_Remarkable-women-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-878x470.png","width":878,"filesize":295169}})
![Two women in coordinating gray couture posing together]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DaBrat-WEB-\u2013-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-at-11.52.23-AM-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":25203},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DaBrat-WEB-\u2013-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-at-11.52.23-AM-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":57209},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DaBrat-WEB-\u2013-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-at-11.52.23-AM-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":163542}})
![Variety of omega-3 foods on chalkboard]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_OMEGA-3-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":36014},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_OMEGA-3-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":83880},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_OMEGA-3-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":233870}})
![Backstage quartet posing with microphone and smiles]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GROUP-SET-IMAGE-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":17787},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GROUP-SET-IMAGE-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":23935},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GROUP-SET-IMAGE-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":43152}})
![Bald man in black blazer with folded arms]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pt120825-\u2013-Emil-Wilbekin-SET-IMAGE-1-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":12549},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pt120825-\u2013-Emil-Wilbekin-SET-IMAGE-1-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":14725},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pt120825-\u2013-Emil-Wilbekin-SET-IMAGE-1-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":21103}})
![Giant beaded mask float rolling through street]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":16080},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":37948},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":106088},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":320094}})
![Smiling woman lying on bar with colorful cans]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":17606},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":25799},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":50160},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":120509}})
![Caricature man cranking racism meter to maximum]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":34569},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":77645},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":198661},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-722x494.png","width":722,"filesize":451159}})
![Tattered American flag amid ruined city street]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":32734},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":36709},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":208052},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":667434}})
![Glam performer wearing crown and black lipstick]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julianne-phoebe-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-1.45.34-PM-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":33943},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julianne-phoebe-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-1.45.34-PM-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":71030},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julianne-phoebe-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-1.45.34-PM-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":181730}})
![Heathy Valentine's Day!]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":16040},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":73172},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":99765},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":303242}})