About Panama Jackson

Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio. He writes very Black things and drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest) but he didn't answer the phone because the caller ID said "Unknown" (Blackest).

All Articles

March 15, 2024
While very few probably know the true origins of Black community staples, it’s always fun to provide a possible history.  
If the new series about the early days of Ghost and Tommy is as good as the series about Kanan, we’re in for another thrilling Queens story. 
De La Soul’s debut album “3 Feet High & Rising” (featuring Prince Paul) was a game-changer in 1989 that still feels unique 35 years later.
LIV Golf Invitational - Chicago - Day One
Nelly was on “The Shop” talking about success at the Grammys and made the bold claim about how competitive it was for a rapper in the aughts. 
MC Hammer’s most edgy album, “Funky Headhunter,” came with some controversy over his image and a legendary Speedo.
March 1, 2024
Trying to plan a day of shuffling kids from points A through Z is often an exercise in futility and has me, again, appreciating my parents.
February 29, 2024
The Harlem duo made it to the height of success and with one statement, changed the way the Black community was able to pull itself together.
Tyler Perry, Mea Culpa, Kelly Rowland, theGrio.com
February 27, 2024
“Mea Culpa,” the latest Netflix film by Tyler Perry stars Kelly Rowland, Trevante Rhodes and a breakout star — paint. Exciting.
February 22, 2024
In 1932, prominent members of the Harlem Renaissance movement made a trip to Moscow that didn’t turn out quite as planned.
February 21, 2024
The Bronx, New York, basketball phenom got a scholarship to an elite private school, stuck it to them, and they still paid for his education.
February 16, 2024
Good coaching can make all the difference. So can mediocre coaching. That’s all it took for one high school to turn its fortunes around.
The big reveal at the end of the season finale left a whole lot of questions that the show is going to have to answer in season 4.
February 9, 2024
With the entire middle school watching, Mike went from being the new kid from North Carolina to the guy who stood tall against Stacey. Salute.
February 8, 2024
A forced rendition of “A Heart is a House for Love” became a defining moment for turning lemons into lemonade that even Beyoncé would enjoy. 
Bad decision-making eventually catches up with everybody, and Lou-Lou and Jukebox show us how hard it is to get away from your family. 
In a tale as old as time, Jason was a chap whose world was small, and Lyric opened him right on up by having him risk his life.
Zhane, Black HIstory Month, theGrio.com
February 1, 2024
The duo of Rene and Jean dropped a smooth and jamtastic album but MOSTLY just wanted us to say their name right.
Marvin’s trying to do better but the police are circling and now Raquel has to deal with Kanan as competition.
January 26, 2024
Tyler Perry doesn’t need my help coming up with new movie ideas, but in case he’s looking for inspiration, I came up with some ideas!
January 25, 2024
A social media trend introduced me to Long’s 2023 single, and now I cannot stop listening to this song that was made for me (pun intended).