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This issue features Raamla Mohamed Hunter, creator and showrunner of Reasonable Doubt; cast member actress Angela Grovey; The Chosen's Amber Shana Williams; culinary genius Chef Bae; comedian/actor Sharief Johnson; and so much more.
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- Page 4URBAN BE’N ORIGINAL FOUNDER / PUBLISHER
- EDITORIALOne month left for 2026, and there's still so much more to be done. You don't have to wait until the new year starts to become a new "you." We have some big things planned for 2027, but we are going to just show you 'cause I hear that it's better than telling.
- UNTOLD STORIESBLACK AND MISSING A captivating and emotionally charged true-crime podcast series created to shine a light on cases of missing people of color.
- Page 1106 EDITORIAL 17 POETRY 24 BUYERS GUIDE 32 KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS 36 P-VALLEY 50 SHARIEF JOHNSON 58 CHEF BAE 66 AMBER SHANA WILLIAMS 72 ANGELA GROVEY 82 RAAMLA MOHAMED HUNTER
- BLACK WOMANWritten by Georgia Douglas Johnson Don’t knock at my door, little child, I cannot let you in, You know not what a world this is Of cruelty and sin. Wait in the still eternity Until I come to you, The world is cruel, cruel, child, I cannot let you in! Don’t knock at my heart, little one, I cannot bear the pain Of turning deaf-ear to your call Time and time again! You do not know the monster men Inhabiting the earth, Be still, be still, my precious child, I must not give you birth!
- Page 19LIFE Written by Paul Laurence Dunbar
- Page 20JOY Written by Clarissa Scott Delany
- MOURNINGWritten by Lís Bryant I’m mourning lessons only pain can teach And ideas of love that are out of reach A wounded soldier with no room to be weak I keep my Head up, chest out while they twist the truths I don’t speak but something’s changing in me I stopped submitting to their decrees I stopped explaining my reasoning I can walk away or burn it down But I promise I’ll be free
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- TIMBERLAND PRO MENS MAXTRAX SOFT TOE SRO BOOTBuilt for demanding work environments, these Timberland PRO waterproof boots deliver comfort, durability, and protection. Featuring waterproof leather, 200 grams of Thermolite insulation, and the Timberland PRO 24/7 Comfort System, they help keep feet warm, dry, and supported throughout the day. The slip-resistant MaxTRAX outsole provides traction, while the soft-toe design offers flexibility and comfort with every step. Price: $149.99 https://link.amazon/B03RPwvSn
- NOTHING HEADPHONE (1) HYBRID ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONESExperience sound like never before with Nothing Headphone (1), developed in collaboration with British audio specialists KEF. Featuring adaptive noise cancellation, spatial audio with head tracking, and Hi-Res Audio support, these wireless headphones deliver immersive listening with exceptional clarity. Enjoy up to 80 hours of playback, memory foam cushions for lasting comfort, and customizable sound settings through the Nothing X app. With intuitive controls and seamless connectivity, every listening session puts you in control. Price: $299.00 https://link.amazon/B03EoqW6Y
- ROCKSTAR GAMES GRAND THEFT AUTO VIRockstar Games brings the chaos back with **Grand Theft Auto VI**, taking players to the neon-lit streets of Vice City and the sprawling state of Leonida. Follow Jason and Lucia as a botched robbery pulls them into a web of crime, betrayal, and conspiracy. Featuring an expansive open world, highstakes action, and immersive storytelling, the next chapter of the blockbuster franchise promises an unforgettable ride. Arriving Nov. 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Price: $79.99 https://amzn.to/4j06huR
- Page 32Photo Credit: Gizelle Hernandez
- KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS BECOMES FIRST BLACK WOMAN U.S. GOVENORFormer Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms made history Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state after defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia’s gubernatorial election. The Democrat’s victory also makes her Georgia’s first woman governor and first Black governor, marking a turning point in a state with a history of racial inequality and political division. Bottoms, 56, will succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was barred from seeking a third consecutive term. Her victory ends more than two decades of Republican control of the governor’s office and marks the first Democratic win in the race since 1998. The former mayor defeated Jackson, a billionaire health care executive who invested heavily in his campaign. Her victory reflects Georgia’s changing political landscape and the growing influence of Black voters. Bottoms served as Atlanta’s mayor from 2018 to 2022, leading the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd. Before becoming mayor, she served on the Atlanta City Council. After leaving office, Bottoms joined President Joe Biden’s administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and later served as a senior adviser.
- Page 34www.urbanmag-online.com
- P-VALLEY RETURNS FOR FINAL SEASONSTARZ’s hit drama P-Valley returns Dec. 4 for its third and final season. Creator Katori Hall brings viewers back to The Pynk, where Uncle Clifford, Mercedes, and the crew face rising tensions, shifting loyalties, and new challenges. After four years, the series prepares to deliver its final chapter with a twoepisode premiere.
- Page 39URBAN | 39URBAN | 39
- Page 47URBAN | 47URBAN | 47
- SHARIEF JOHNSONComedian/actor Sharief Johnson is preparing to release his second comedy album, I Wish That Was a Joke Too. In this interview, he discusses growth, acting, and his plans to expand into film and TV. You're recording your second comedy album, I Wish That Was a Joke Too during your comedy festival. What has changed most about you as a comedian since your first album? I've grown as a comedian, personally, onstage, and as an actor. When I recorded my first album, I Wish That Was a Joke, I was discovering how powerful my truth was and how funny it could be. I Wish That Was a Joke Too takes everything to another level. I feel like I'm in a great groove, both in comedy and in life. When I recorded the first album, I only had one child. Now I have two, and marriage and fatherhood have brought different experiences into my life. There are so many things happening that I couldn't make up if I tried.
- Page 52You've been performing stand-up for more than a decade. What did the early version of Sharief Johnson get wrong that you understand much better today? The biggest mistake I made was listening to too many people who thought they knew what was best for me. Early in my career, I was naturally good at improvisation and crowd work. Audiences loved it, especially in urban comedy clubs. But some mainstream clubs told me I was all over the place. I started changing my approach to fit what they wanted.Looking back, I was already on the right track. I just allowed other people's opinions to pull me away from what made me different. I've learned that the audience is our real boss. Bookers and casting directors come and go, but the audience tells you what connects. If I could go back, I'd tell my younger self to trust his instincts. Don't ignore constructive criticism, but don't let someone else's vision replace your own. The people will tell you when something works. Television audiences know you as Damon from Power Book III: Raising Kanan. How has acting in a drama affected the way you think about timing, character, and storytelling when you return to stand-up? Acting has been a game changer for my comedy. Before acting, I was already telling stories and bringing characters into my performances, especially when talking about my mother and family. But acting helped those characters come alive. I'm much more theatrical now. Before, audiences listened to me tell funny stories. Today, they're watching me perform those stories. Sometimes, I don't even have to say anything to get a laugh. My body language tells the joke. Acting also taught me to be comfortable with serious moments. As comedians, we're always chasing the next laugh. Now, I understand that holding someone's attention is just as important. The best comedians aren't just funny. They're interesting. They can make you laugh and then say something that stays with you. That's what acting, especially working on Raising Kanan, has brought to my stand-up.
- Page 55I don't want to be boxed into one thing. I'm a comedian, an actor, and a creative person. It's rewarding when audiences recognize that I can do more than one thing. You've performed at festivals including Netflix Is a Joke Laughing Skull, and Big Pine, where you earned Best of the Fest honors. What do comedy festivals teach a comedian that performing regular club dates does not? Comedy festivals are game changers, especially for comedians of color who may not know about the opportunities available through them. At festivals, you're meeting agents, managers, bookers, producers, and other comedians. You're building relationships with people who can help advance your career. My first experience at Laughing Skull didn't immediately lead to bookings or representation. But I kept showing up. Eventually, those relationships started creating opportunities, including connections that helped me produce my comedy specials. The biggest lesson is patience and consistency. You can't approach a festival thinking that being the funniest person automatically guarantees success.You have to keep showing people what you can do. When industry professionals see you delivering at different festivals, they realize you're not a one-time success. My advice is to keep improving, build relationships, and trust the process. What's meant for you will come when you're ready.
- CHEF BAEAtlanta celebrity culinarian Chef Bae has built a brand rooted in traditions and recipes. She discusses her grandmother's influence, overcoming grief, and strategically expanding her culinary business. I want to start with where your passion for cooking began. What are your first memories in the kitchen? My first memories in the kitchen go all the way back to the early '90s in Cleveland, Ohio. My grandmother Dorothy had a big family, so she would cook big meals during the week. It could be a Tuesday or Wednesday, and because she had five children, along with herself and her husband to feed, she would sometimes make catering-sized meals. Some of those meals were like holiday dinners on a regular day of the week. I learned so much from her. She's the reason I learned how to cook and why I wanted to pursue a career as a chef.
- Page 60showers, or whatever the occasion. I love helping people bring their events together and making them memorable, especially with good food. The Southern comfort food I make works well for those types of occasions because there are generous portions. No one leaves hungry. Soul food brings people together. Those are the types of events I love to cater. One of the most memorable events I catered was a celebration connected to YSL. It was a gathering of family and friends, and the atmosphere was incredible. Everyone was celebrating, laughing, and enjoying themselves. It was fun, vibrant, and full of life. That's what made it such a memorable experience for me. You've also written several digital cookbooks covering everything from seafood and soul food to brunch and even baby food. What's one dish that takes you back to the beginning with Ms. Dorothy? A dish that takes me back to the beginning is definitely oxtails. You're taking me down memory lane because that woman knew how to make delicious, tender oxtails. And her mac and cheese? I'd put up my mortgage money and everything else on the fact that she made the best mac and cheese ever! It's those types of meals, the hearty, soulful dishes that were inexpensive back in the day, that I truly remember.
- Page 63“WITH TWENTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT KEEP MY SPARK GOING. MY LOVE FOR FOOD IS ONE.” With twenty years of experience, there are several things that keep my spark going. My love for food is one. The second is keeping traditions alive for myself, my two daughters, and all the people out there who may not have had a Dorothy in their lives. You'd be surprised how many people didn't have the opportunity to learn certain life skills growing up. I'm just so grateful to be able to share that knowledge. Everyone who knows me personally knows that I call her Nanny, but I make sure to say her name because I want people to know the real reason behind what I do. I want her memory to live on through me. The third thing that keeps my spark going is my family. My husband, my children, and my mom are the ones who keep that spark alive. They encourage me, and I can bounce ideas off them for feedback and support.
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- Page 66Photogrpaher: Jonny Marlow Stylist: Anna Schilling Hair Stylist: LaRae Burress Makeup Artist: Dion Xu
- AMBER SHANA WILLIAMSFrom bringing authenticity to Tamar in The Chosen to embracing a life guided by purpose, actress Amber Shana Williams is learning that power comes from knowing who you are and refusing to shrink. As The Chosen approaches one of its most anticipated chapters, how has your understanding of Tamar changed since you first stepped into the role? At the beginning of the show, I wasn't quite sure who she was. I looked her up in the Bible because I knew of a couple of Tamars, and I thought, ‘This can't possibly be that Tamar because this is the New Testament.’ After doing some research and talking with the team, I realized she was a creative take on one of the friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus. Initially, I thought she was there to help move the story along. But after spending so many years portraying her, she's become like family. I'm her biggest advocate, and she's taught me to take up space. There's a beautiful scene in Season 3, Episode 6, when the women confront their differences. Tamar never apologizes for who she is. Instead, she apologizes that Mary didn't feel she could be who she truly was and was constantly punishing herself. I've grown to respect Tamar almost as a peer. She's shown me that compassion, empathy, and love can guide you, and that kindness and niceness are not the same thing. Being kind is much more important, and she exemplifies that in every way.
- Page 68“AUTHENTICITY IS IMPERFECT. IT'S FLAWED, DOUBTFUL, STUBBORN, AND FULL OF COMPLEXITY.” Tamar's lines were in English. I went to the writer-director and suggested that the scene would feel more authentic if she spoke her native language during such an emotional conversation. They trusted me, and we were able to honor her Ethiopian heritage and the experience of being an outsider. When people speak English as a second language, they don't always think in that language during moments of heightened emotion.
- Page 71“IF I RUN MYSELF RAGGED, I WON'T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE THINGS I'VE WORKED SO HARD FOR.” What are you enjoying most about experimenting with fashion at this stage of your career? I want to take risks. Sometimes you get it right, and sometimes you miss, but I want to have fun discovering different facets of who I am through fashion. I admire stars who take risks with their style. It shouldn't feel like a burden. If you're constantly fidgeting or uncomfortable, that look probably isn't for you. I love when style feels like an extension of who you are. It's an opportunity to play with color and texture. I always say, whether I'm going to an event or just going out with the girls, ‘You may not hear me, but you'll see me.’ You may not hear what I have to say, but you will see me when I walk into the room. I carry that everywhere.
- Page 74Photogrpaher: Sequoyah Wildwyn-Dechter
- ANGELA GROVEYIn an exclusive interview, actress Angela Grovey opens up about her role as Krystal on Reasonable Doubt, performing on Broadway, the lessons she's learned along the way, and what's ahead in the future. Krystal has become one of those characters who can say what everyone else in the room may be thinking. As you enter Season 4 of Reasonable Doubt, what have you learned about her that you didn’t understand when you first took the role? Well, she is still very direct, which I love so much about her because she’s spicy, but she does it for all the right reasons. This season is heavy for a lot of our characters, and I didn’t really realize how sensitive she was until this season, exploring some new things. It just makes me love her even more because she’s showing another side of who she is and how she rocks in business and in life.
- Page 76“IT’S SO EXCITING WHEN WE GET NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO A SEASON WITH US.” Reasonable Doubt has continued to expand its ensemble, and Season 4 brings in new performers, including Meagan Good, La La Anthony, and Rutina Wesley. What has that growth meant for you as an actor, and how has it changed the energy on set? Oh, my God. It’s so exciting when we get new people coming into a season with us. I love it when we get to play with other actors. You just named some amazing people, and Tank joining us this season has been fantastic, too. It brings a level of excitement and energy because you admire these actors and their work, so you want to make it a good environment for them. Then you hear them say they’re fans of the show and that they get nervous about coming to work with us, and it’s like, “Oh, my God. Let’s just all have fun.”
- Page 79“COMEDY IS FUN. I GET TO KEEP IT NICE AND LIGHT, BUT SOMETIMES I BELIEVE IN A LITTLE BALANCE.” always been a reminder to reset with any project I go into and say, “This is a new adventure for you, and you never know what will happen because of it.” That’s how I like to approach all my work. You never know what’s going to happen. Just go in and do good work.
- Page 82Photogrpaher: Calvin Leonard
- RAAMLA MOHAMED HUNTERGreatness is never achieved overnight. It's built through perseverance, purpose, and the courage to pursue a vision. Raamla Mohamed Hunter embodies that journey, rising from production assistant to creator and showrunner of Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt. Through the complex world of attorney Jax Stewart, she challenges conventional portrayals of Black women on television, bringing authenticity and depth to every storyline. In this exclusive conversation, Hunter discusses her journey, the evolution of Reasonable Doubt, and the difficult decisions behind bringing her vision to life.
- Page 84“I FEEL REALLY HAPPY THAT I TOOK ALL THOSE STEPS BECAUSE I LEARNED SOMETHING AT EVERY LEVEL.” You started your television career as a production assistant and worked your way up to showrunner. How did that experience shape your approach to leading a writers’ room and executing a long-term vision for Reasonable Doubt I feel really happy that I took all those steps because I learned something at every level. As an assistant, I learned the attention to detail you have to have. Being able to observe what it looks like to be a showrunner and a writer before I actually did it was a great experience. I was in the room as a researcher, gathering stories and pitching stories, even though I wasn’t yet a writer. Then I became a writer, and that required a whole different set of skills: pitching, listening, and thinking at the same time. For probably two years, that was very challenging for me. Then I got to be on set and produce a lot of episodes when I was on Scandal and, subsequently, Little Fires Everywhere I learned a lot from other writers and directors. I remember Debbie Allen directed a couple of my episodes on Scandal. She said, “Come from behind the monitors. Come and look at the camera. Look, you see what I’m doing here?” I was very blessed to have all these mentors and smart people around me. I became an assistant in 2009, and I started on this show in 2021. When you tell the story of that journey in 30 seconds, it sounds fast. But we’re talking about more than a decade of working and perfecting the craft, and then learning the showrunner role as well. I’m always learning. I learn things from everyone, from my unit production manager to the key grip. When I’m on set, I ask questions. I believe the best way to do the job is to keep having fun and keep learning how to do better. I learn from the audience, too: what they think works, what doesn’t, and what they respond to. It’s all helpful in my creative process.
- Page 85Photogrpaher: Joshua Kiss
- Page 91corporate environment brings pressures, including the pressure she puts on herself to be successful. She’s also the breadwinner. There are so many realistic aspects of her life that I’ve seen friends go through and have experienced in my own life. I wanted something that felt relatable but also entertaining. That’s how Jax was born. She was inspired by Shawn Holley, who struts around in heels from courtroom to courtroom and represents high-powered, famous people. Her mind works like Jax’s: She can see beyond someone’s personality and really look at the law. That was my starting point. Then I wanted Jax Stewart to have a messier, more complicated personal life. About her personal life, I liked how you portrayed Jax’s mother in Episode 6; she reminds me of my own mother, indifferent to my achievements. My mom is obviously very happy about the show, but it’s still, “Can you call? Can you stop by and help me with my folder?” or something else she needs done. If I went to my mom’s house and started cussing at her, she’d say the same thing: “Who are you talking to? I must be having a dream, because who are you talking to?” My grandmother’s name was Luell, and Mama Lou is kind of based on her. She was definitely a firecracker and a personality, for sure.
- Page 92Reasonable Doubt explores race, relationships, ambition, power, and the justice system. How do you balance those themes without making the audience feel as though they’re being taught a lesson? It’s a very tough balance, for sure. A lot of it comes down to thinking about how to keep the audience entertained while also delivering the message. Sometimes we can do that in subtle ways, whether through Jax, her friends, or a case. We want the audience to connect because they’re drawn in by the characters, rather than have the show feel too preachy. marriage looks like. I wouldn’t say I have more empathy for Jax. If anything, I’m a little more like, “Whoa, why did you do all that stuff? That’s kind of crazy.” But my life has definitely informed the journey I want Jax to take, and it still lines up with what I’ve wanted for her. My experiences have shaped what I want to see from Jax in the future.
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Photogrpaher: Jonny Marlow Stylist: Anna Schilling Hair Stylist: LaRae Burress Makeup Artist: Dion Xu