Danyel Smith
@danyelsmith.bsky.social
i tell stories 🔆 NYTM. 3X author. creator/host, Black Girl Songbook pod. vintage VIBE + Billboard. film consultant. ESPN. Rock Hall. MacDowell + Yaddo
https://www.danyelsmithwriter.com/
https://shinebrighthq.substack.com/
https://www.danyelsmithwriter.com/
https://shinebrighthq.substack.com/
Pinned
Danyel Smith
@danyelsmith.bsky.social
· Apr 7
it’s the 110th anniversary of Billie Holiday’s birth: April 7 1915. in Episode 28 of my Black Girl Songbook #podcast, i celebrate the influence of Holiday’s music as it shows up in artists like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, and more. listen in www.theringer.com/podcasts/bla...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
The number of people currently in ICE custody is now over 73,000, the most in history.
February 3, 2026 at 1:11 PM
The number of people currently in ICE custody is now over 73,000, the most in history.
a song.
February 3, 2026 at 6:42 AM
a song.
Reposted by Danyel Smith
Joel Embiid and James Harden have not played against each other since December 2021, when Harden was in Brooklyn. By February 2022, the two were teammates.
One of the other has missed each of the six 76ers-Clippers games since Harden was traded in Fall 2023.
One of the other has missed each of the six 76ers-Clippers games since Harden was traded in Fall 2023.
February 2, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Joel Embiid and James Harden have not played against each other since December 2021, when Harden was in Brooklyn. By February 2022, the two were teammates.
One of the other has missed each of the six 76ers-Clippers games since Harden was traded in Fall 2023.
One of the other has missed each of the six 76ers-Clippers games since Harden was traded in Fall 2023.
Reposted by Danyel Smith
No masks on cops. No masks on cops. No masks on cops. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The Real Reason ICE Agents Wear Masks
Face-coverings may work less to protect federal agents from danger than to make it easier for them to do unconstitutional things.
www.theatlantic.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:41 PM
No masks on cops. No masks on cops. No masks on cops. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
yes! Oakland girls fo-evah
February 1, 2026 at 9:55 PM
yes! Oakland girls fo-evah
Reposted by Danyel Smith
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-te....
rihanna ➕ teedra ➕ what's exactly what
'i love how my brain feels'
shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:56 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-te....
Reposted by Danyel Smith
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-an...
rihanna & nancy & carmelo & wendy
+ goodness is “not realistic.” meanness is super cool
shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:57 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-an...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making / podcasting for years. the energy is lush, genius, complex, collaborative, eternal open.spotify.com/episode/1CEv...
Rihanna: She Found Love and Herself | Chapter 18
open.spotify.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:01 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making / podcasting for years. the energy is lush, genius, complex, collaborative, eternal open.spotify.com/episode/1CEv...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna has been a constant across my thinking, writing, editing, magazine-making, podcasting, and newslettering for years. I was leading VIBE Vixen when we created this issue ('07?) and was fortunate to be in the room for the shoot. We say “what a time” a lot—but truly, it was
January 28, 2026 at 9:17 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna has been a constant across my thinking, writing, editing, magazine-making, podcasting, and newslettering for years. I was leading VIBE Vixen when we created this issue ('07?) and was fortunate to be in the room for the shoot. We say “what a time” a lot—but truly, it was
Reposted by Danyel Smith
Jim Crow regimes relied on violence against Black Americans and ostracism and/or boycotts of whites who dared complain or ally with them.
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Jim Crow regimes relied on violence against Black Americans and ostracism and/or boycotts of whites who dared complain or ally with them.
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna has been a constant across my thinking, writing, editing, magazine-making, podcasting, and newslettering for years. I was leading VIBE Vixen when we created this issue ('07?) and was fortunate to be in the room for the shoot. We say “what a time” a lot—but truly, it was
January 28, 2026 at 9:17 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna has been a constant across my thinking, writing, editing, magazine-making, podcasting, and newslettering for years. I was leading VIBE Vixen when we created this issue ('07?) and was fortunate to be in the room for the shoot. We say “what a time” a lot—but truly, it was
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making / podcasting for years. the energy is lush, genius, complex, collaborative, eternal open.spotify.com/episode/1CEv...
Rihanna: She Found Love and Herself | Chapter 18
open.spotify.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:01 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making / podcasting for years. the energy is lush, genius, complex, collaborative, eternal open.spotify.com/episode/1CEv...
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-an...
rihanna & nancy & carmelo & wendy
+ goodness is “not realistic.” meanness is super cool
shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:57 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-an...
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-te....
rihanna ➕ teedra ➕ what's exactly what
'i love how my brain feels'
shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:56 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna’s been a constant in my thinking / writing / editing / magazine-making for years, and she pops up in my newsletter more than almost anyone shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/rihanna-te....
Reposted by Danyel Smith
i will take decent journalism news wherever i can: www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Elizabeth Hughes: There is a path for Pittsburgh to save its newspaper
As publisher of The Inquirer, I believe that our own experience over the past decade offers a template for success.
www.inquirer.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:36 AM
i will take decent journalism news wherever i can: www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
today’s work. it has me thinking — greatness is rarely polite
January 25, 2026 at 7:18 AM
today’s work. it has me thinking — greatness is rarely polite
Reposted by Danyel Smith
From Hell's Kitchen to everywhere — the piano, the braids, the voice that made you feel seen. Happy birthday to Alicia Keys. And in her honor, we're resurfacing her episode of My Black Girl Songbook pod open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
January 25, 2026 at 8:49 AM
From Hell's Kitchen to everywhere — the piano, the braids, the voice that made you feel seen. Happy birthday to Alicia Keys. And in her honor, we're resurfacing her episode of My Black Girl Songbook pod open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
i will take decent journalism news wherever i can: www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Elizabeth Hughes: There is a path for Pittsburgh to save its newspaper
As publisher of The Inquirer, I believe that our own experience over the past decade offers a template for success.
www.inquirer.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:36 AM
i will take decent journalism news wherever i can: www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
Y'all remember when Maxine Waters said a motherfucker she'd never heard of was tryna get her to leave her office on 1/6/2021? She said she just stayed there until she was certain she could leave. I think about that a lot.
January 28, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Y'all remember when Maxine Waters said a motherfucker she'd never heard of was tryna get her to leave her office on 1/6/2021? She said she just stayed there until she was certain she could leave. I think about that a lot.
Reposted by Danyel Smith
happy celestial birthday to Ms. Jean Knight — shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/the-fall-g...
January 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM
happy celestial birthday to Ms. Jean Knight — shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/the-fall-g...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
[🤗 🤩] Taylor Townsend has advanced to the Australian quarterfinals in both women’s and mixed doubles shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/tay-townse...
Tay Townsend + Mac Miller [RIP] + burner rules
+ the OG Mariah, Coco's hot sauce & women's ambition
shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:46 PM
[🤗 🤩] Taylor Townsend has advanced to the Australian quarterfinals in both women’s and mixed doubles shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/tay-townse...
Reposted by Danyel Smith
Alicia has been giving us grace, talent, and zero apologies since day one. Happy birthday to her. Resurfacing her Black Girl Songbook episode to celebrate open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
January 25, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Alicia has been giving us grace, talent, and zero apologies since day one. Happy birthday to her. Resurfacing her Black Girl Songbook episode to celebrate open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
happy celestial birthday to Ms. Jean Knight — shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/the-fall-g...
January 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM
happy celestial birthday to Ms. Jean Knight — shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/the-fall-g...
[🤗 🤩] Taylor Townsend has advanced to the Australian quarterfinals in both women’s and mixed doubles shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/tay-townse...
Tay Townsend + Mac Miller [RIP] + burner rules
+ the OG Mariah, Coco's hot sauce & women's ambition
shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:46 PM
[🤗 🤩] Taylor Townsend has advanced to the Australian quarterfinals in both women’s and mixed doubles shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/tay-townse...
Alicia has been giving us grace, talent, and zero apologies since day one. Happy birthday to her. Resurfacing her Black Girl Songbook episode to celebrate open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
January 25, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Alicia has been giving us grace, talent, and zero apologies since day one. Happy birthday to her. Resurfacing her Black Girl Songbook episode to celebrate open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...