ABOUT THE SLATE
Founded in 2016 by J.R. DuBois and C.O. James, The Slate is an in-depth online magazine for the Black community. We currently update our website every day, and are active on Instagram and Twitter (@theslate1862). The Slate is a free publication produced by a network of volunteers who report, interview, photograph, create, write, edit, and provide website management. We accept submissions that examine people, news, events, and culture through a critical lens, exploring how systems of power — economic, political and social — affect the lives of the Black community locally and globally. Our goal is to connect, uplift, and inspire the black community.
Photograph courtesy of Titus Moye Photography
Meet the Staff
J.R. DuBois
J.R. is the Chief Editor and Co-Founder of The Slate. J.R. is a junior at Rutgers University, where she studies Labor Studies and Employment Relations. J.R. is biracial and has been the subject of one too many, "What is Black enough?" conversations. Her passions include film, art, and the great outdoors. J.R. has no rhythm and dislikes fried chicken. She also plays spades and twists her hair every night before bed. J.R. identifies as a Black woman, who is comfortable in her "blackness".
C.O. James
C. O. James is Co-Founder of The Slate. C. James is a self proclaimed black-tivist who promotes self love and restoring positive self esteem in the Black community. She enjoys reading, music and the more than occasional drag on Twitter. The one with the black power fist tattoo and one of continental Africa, too. C. James loves the black community for its hood rats, its scholars, everyone in between and everyone who is both. With love for our history and our future, C. James is pursuing a degree in history in hopes of teaching our children what blackness really is....priceless.
J. Lynn
J. Lynn is Staff Editor and Photographer of The Slate. Biracial, adopted by white parents and raised in small town Iowa, Lynn always felt like an outsider. Craving diversity and depth, she moved to Minneapolis in 2011 where she became widely connected in the creative world and found comfort in her blackness. It was home. Fueled by amazing restaurants, taking photos, and travel, Lynn is excited to continue discovering and surfacing greatness within the black community.
C.V. Viard
C.V. is currently a student at her local community college. In her free time she feverishly scrolls through social media and reads about womanism. C.V. identifies as a queer woman of color and is currently fighting for the validity of people like her everywhere.
