Frustrated by a lack of sponsorship dollars and branding opportunities, Black Tik Tok creators are "striking" to gain recognition for dance trends often hijacked by white creators, which has sparked conversations around online appropriation.
Read MoreAs members of the Asian American community face an onrush of violent hate crimes, attacks that have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jona Hilario and others said sharing their experiences is essential in the fight against racism.
While there's been growing awareness nationally, there's still a line of separation between Asian Americans and other residents on a local level, Hilario, a Hilliard resident, said. In helping educate central Ohioans on the matter, Hilario said events such as the Asian Festival can help bridge the gap.
Read MoreRather than fit the mold of a traditional Columbus hip-hop artist, Boog, a self-described pop star, was driven to shape a new sound within the city's musical silos.
Read MoreWith the alluringly bright lights of the Miss Black Ohio pageant forced to fade last year due to COVID-19, a new line of contestants will take center stage on Saturday at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
In celebrating nearly 40 years of Miss Black Ohio, State Pageant Director Fanchon Page, 50, of Columbus, couldn't let the milestone pass without crowning a new queen after last year's cancellation.
Read MoreThe rhythmic movements and the sounds of Afro percussions echoed throughout the corner of Taylor Avenue and East Long Street, as Columbus poet Charles "Is Said" Lyons and others came together to commemorate an overlooked but integral fragment of Columbus history.
The Uhuru Dance Company, an African-based dance group that formed on the Ohio State University campus in the fall of 1971, celebrated its 50th anniversary Saturday with the placement of an outdoor mural at 1500 E. Long St., the former home of the Willis Beauty Supply Store.
Read MoreThe travel industry plummeted last year as the world struggled with the onset of a global pandemic, one that battered the economy and prompted uncertainty for businesses reliant on tourism dollars.
But with state parks, zoos, museums and other venues modifying COVID-19 safety restrictions and Gov. Mike DeWine announcing the ending of state health orders on June 2, there's a rising sense of optimism for national and state travel.
Read MoreAs the community reels from the death of 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant – the latest in a series of high-profile fatal shootings by police – activist Kiara Yakita is not surprised that another Black person has been shot and killed by an officer.
"Columbus is a tale of two cities," she said.
In the wake of Bryant’s death – and the four other Black people who have been killed by law enforcement in Franklin County since Dec. 4 – Yakita, the founder of the Black Liberation Movement Central Ohio, has been calling for a reckoning between Columbus police and the Black community.
Read MoreIn the days following the death of George Floyd, artist Charles "Mark Phi" Smart watched the gut-wrenching video of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinning his knee on the neck of the 46-year-old Black man as he pled for his life.
While Floyd's death prompted international protests, riots and renewed cries for social and racial justice, Phi felt compelled to create an art piece that spoke to his emotions.
Read MoreAs venue and event spaces have begun to open their doors, a sense of hope has permeated the city's entertainment circles.
As the summer festival and event season is fast approaching, we thought a roundup on the status of what is happening, what's going virtual or has been modified, and what is cancelled was in order.
Here's the status of some popular summertime events, based on information available now.
Read MoreThe Ohio Expositions Commission announced Thursday that the 2021 Ohio State Fair will not be open to the public. Instead, the annual event will focus on agricultural and educational competitions for exhibitors, their families and guests.
In an online release, members of the commission expressed concerns for the public health of residents and guests, as well as the potential financial impact of hosting a fair under current COVID-19 safety protocols.
Read MoreIn recognizing the importance of diversity in the world of science, the Center of Science and Industry will welcome Miss America 2020 winner Camille Schrier for the center's The Color of Science Digital Series from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday.
Schrier, 25, who impressed the judges at the Miss America competition by performing a catalytic experiment that showcased the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide — also known as “Elephant Toothpaste” — will be interviewed by COSI President and CEO Frederic Bertley during the monthly series.
Read MoreAfter an extended outdoor-movie season last year, the South Drive-In Theatre is set to open on Friday with the action-thriller "Nobody."
Owner Bryon Teagardner, who has operated the theater at 3050 S. High St. since late 2018, decided to open the theater this weekend because of increasingly warmer weather and a sustained interest from moviegoers.
Read MoreFormer Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton and local health care workers will be honored during the 25th American Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Celebration from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday. .
Presented by Nationwide, the virtual event will highlight the men and women who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of community members during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreEnraged by the killing of eight people — including six Asian American women — in three Atlanta-area massage businesses on Tuesday, Columbus residents Linh Ta, Miki Gotoh and others have called for community action and shared solidarity.
Suspect Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old from Woodstock, Georgia, has been charged with multiple counts of murder and a charge of aggravated assault. Authorities are still looking into whether this was a hate crime.
Following the shootings, Gotoh, 45, and Ta, 44, have organized a rally to mourn the lives of those involved in the massacre and highlight the targeting of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA), the Ohio Chinese American Association (OCAA) and the Asian Pacific American Advocates - Columbus group have partnered with Ta and Gotoh for the the CommUNITY Collective, #StopAsianHate event.
The rally will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bicentennial Park along the Scioto Mile. Ta said the hope is to forge various community members together for the rally, not just members of the Asian community.
"It's not just about Asians, we want solidarity in Columbus," she said.
Gotoh said Tuesday's shootings are reflective of the increase in anti-Asian acts.
"It's a real fear that because I look the way I do I can be hunted because of that," she said.
On Tuesday, Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization that tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against AAPI members, released data revealing nearly 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported from March 19, 2020, to February 28.
Women made up roughly 68%, compared to men, who made up 29% of respondents. And since the start of 2021, the organization has reported more than 500 racially-motivated hate attacks.
When asked about increases in Asian American attacks earlier this month, a Columbus police spokesperson said the department isn't aware of an uptick in local incidents.
Sam Shim, founder of the AAPI Caucus of the Ohio Democratic Party and the Asian and Pacific Islander Alumni Society at Ohio State University, said these attacks have been largely perpetuated by the country's political leaders.
For several weeks, Asian Americans have questioned how to deal with a recent wave of assaults — many on the elderly — that have coincided with the pandemic. The virus was first identified in China, and former President Donald Trump and others have used racial terms to describe it.
With the use of such rhetoric, Shim said it's led to a rise in these targeted attacks.
"A lot of people aren't aware of the level of anti-Asian hate and xenophobia going on in the country," he said. "It's important to let our entire community know that these acts are happening everywhere."
While anti-Asian attacks have risen during the pandemic, Dublin resident Dr. Anita Somani said they have been happening long before the outbreak.
Somani, 58, originally from India, reflected on past hate crimes such as the Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, and the increase of xenophobia after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, among other incidents.
The Dublin resident also criticized authorities investigating the Atlanta massacre, citing a comment from Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jay Baker, who said about the gunman, "It was a really bad day for him.” The comment appeared to be a "pass," she said, one that could lead to similar occurrences in the future.
Baker is no longer a spokesman for the case.
"It implicitly gives permission for people to continue to hate," Somani said. "It gives them the idea that it's OK to do these things because I'm white."
Given the damage white supremacists and other hate groups have caused in this country, Somani said these tragedies call for minority groups to come together.
"When you start to divide groups up, it becomes more prevalent," she said. "I think that as people of color, we all need to come together as a bigger community to effectively protest or come up with solutions to end racism."
With the overwhelming wave of racism and hate crimes Black, Latino and other minority groups have faced, Vincent Wang, who serves as national president of the APAPA and chair of the OCAA, said they need to come together to push messages of peace and hope.
"At this moment we should condemn the violence and increase the understanding of each other's pain," Wang said. "We are in this challenge together and we need to stand together, rather than tear down each other."
Shim said the forming of events such as the CommUNITY Collective and others are important in forging this widespread effort, which will lead to the ending of these race-driven attacks.
"Silence is not an option," he said. "We need our allies to speak up everywhere. It shouldn't come from just the Asian community, it should come from all Americans."
While still planning Saturday's rally, Ta and Gotoh said the assembling of community members and public officials will be needed in order to achieve action items and long-term progression.
"It's not a one-and-done event, this conversation has to continue," Ta said. "So we're opening up dialogue for it to continue."
The Associated Press contributed to this story
After nearly a year of quarantine, social distancing and closures, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum has returned to regularly-scheduled hours and in-person events.
The museum is now open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
Read MoreAs the summer gardening season approaches, companies have doubled up on seeds and other supplies to avoid potential shortages following last year's surge in demand.
Kelly Funk, the president of Park Seed, an e-commerce gardening seed retailer based in South Carolina, said the company has doubled its supply of top-selling products to account for the unprecedented demand that took place in 2020.
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