The Burton Wire

07/30/2026

For 14 years The Burton Wire has been here, covering stories others ignored, providing context when headlines fell short, and centering Black voices and perspectives without apology. We’ve never had the resources of legacy media organizations, but we’ve always had something just as valuable: a community of readers who believe this work matters.

Today, I’m asking that community to help carry this work forward. If just 100 readers committed to a paid subscription, it would make a meaningful difference in our ability to continue producing independent journalism.

Our goal is simple: 100 Founding Supporters or paid subscribers. If just 100 of our thousands of readers become paid subscribers, we can build a more sustainable future for The Burton Wire. Thank you to those who have already subscribed.

Independent Black journalism has never been more necessary. If The Burton Wire has informed you, challenged you, or helped you see the world differently over the past 14 years, I hope you’ll invest in its future. Together, we can ensure that these stories continue to be told.

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Hi, I'm Dr. Nsenga K. Burton.First, thank you for stopping by. It truly means a lot.I created "The Burton Wire" because I believe our stories deserve thoughtful, independent journalism that informs, i

07/28/2026

I break down the tension around Tuskegee’s new dress code that has upset some people. Like and subscribe.

A recording by The Burton Wire News

07/07/2026

Pioneer. Entrepreneur. Businessman. Rest in power Mr. Johnson.

We’ve lost a giant in the business world. George E. Johnson was born in Mississippi, he moved to Chicago with his mother, after his parents separated. Johnson attended Wendell Phillips High School but dropped out to work full-time jobs. During the day he was a bus boy and in the evenings he set pins at a local bowling alley. In 1944, he started working as a production chemist for another trailblazer, Samuel B. Fuller, who owned a cosmetics company.

A decade later Johnson founded Johnson Products with his wife Joan, focusing on the Black male hair care. He borrowed $500 to finance the venture. The company's first product was Ultra Wave, a hair relaxer for men. In 1957, Ultra Sheen, a hair straightener that could easily be used in the home, was introduced for women.

More products would follow including, Afro Sheen. Johnson Products grew, the company also focused on training cosmetologists on the proper usage as well. The company became a multi-million dollar success. In 1964, Johnson founded Independence Bank, and during the 1970s he became the exclusive sponsor behind the nationally syndicated dance show Soul Train. Johnson became a multi-millionaire when that was unheard of from Blacks in America.

In 1971, Johnson Products became the first African American-owned company to be listed on the American Stock Exchange.
That same year, Johnson became the first African American to serve on the board of directors of Commonwealth Edison. Johnson was 99.

07/04/2026

Brooklyn-born Doreen “Sparky D” Broadnax is regarded as one of the first female battle rappers, first gaining attention through the Roxanne Wars; when she responded to Roxanne Shante's "Roxanne's Revenge" with "Sparky's Turn (Roxanne, You're Through)" in 1985. In 1988, Broadnax released her first full-length album on B-Boy Records, “This is Sparky D's World.” She worked closely with DJ Red Alert, Roxanne Shanté, MC Shy D, and Spyder D. Rest in power Sparky D.

06/21/2026

The Burton Wire celebrates fathers, father figures, adoptive fathers, and bonus Dads, everyday. 💙🖤

06/19/2026

Today we commemorate the moment freedom finally reached those from whom it had been deliberately withheld after it was granted by the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth asks us to do more than attend a festival or enjoy a day off. It invites us to remember that freedom has often arrived unevenly in American history. It challenges us to recognize that justice delayed has lasting consequences.

Read more on The Burton Wire News on

Juneteenth Is Not a Celebration of Delay. It Is a Commemoration of Freedom. Every year, as Juneteenth approaches, I hear the same question: Why do we celebrate a day that came two years after enslaved people were supposed to be free? The question misunderstands what Juneteenth represents. Juneteenth...

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is not a celebration of delay; it is a commemoration of freedom. Read more on The Burton Wire News on

Juneteenth Is Not a Celebration of Delay. It Is a Commemoration of Freedom. Every year, as Juneteenth approaches, I hear the same question: Why do we celebrate a day that came two years after enslaved people were supposed to be free? The question misunderstands what Juneteenth represents. Juneteenth...

06/19/2026

How are you commemorating ? Share in the comments.

06/19/2026

What are you doing to commemorate ? Share in the comments.

06/03/2026

The Burton Wire Remembers Peabo Bryson (1951–2026)

The Burton Wire mourns the passing of legendary R&B balladeer and two-time Grammy Award winner Peabo Bryson, who died on June 2, 2026, at the age of 75 following a stroke. Over a career spanning five decades, Bryson’s rich, soulful voice became the soundtrack to love, hope, and romance for generations of listeners.
Known worldwide for his unforgettable duets, Bryson earned Grammy Awards for “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle. Yet his legacy extends far beyond Disney classics. Songs such as “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” “Can You Stop the Rain,” “Feel the Fire,” and “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” cemented his place among the greatest voices in R&B history.

Learn more about the life and legacy of Peabo Bryson on The Burton Wire News on Substack.

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