A Look Back At 2014 In Black News

#BlackLivesMatter Truly Dominated 2014

From #BlackLivesMatter to Bill Cosby to Azealia Banks' passionate interview with Hot 97, it's been an eventful year in black news.

Ebony.com senior editor Jamilah Lemieux, Nation Institute fellow Mychal Denzel Smith and BET editorial brand manager Michaela Angela Davis sat down with HuffPost Live's Marc Lamont Hill to look back at some of the biggest stories of 2014.

Michael Brown’s death and the subsequent grand jury proceedings dominated headlines and ruled the social media sphere as the first and second most tweeted event of the year. Brown’s killing and the prolific protests that followed, pushed Americans from all walks of life to grapple with the implications of racism and police brutality.

“This was the year that woke up the country and the world,” said Lemieux. “So much of the credit goes to the young people of Ferguson, who on Aug. 9 saw that image that haunted so many of us, of Michael Brown’s body laying out in the street for four and a half hours and decided that this was enough.”

While the focus on racial inequality reached new heights, 2014 also brought some surprising stories from outside of the social justice realm. Little League pitcher Mo’ne Davis stole our hearts, Azealia Banks argued for the integrity of rap music and Bill Cosby fell from grace as sexual assault allegations mounted against the comedian.

Watch the clips below to learn more about the top sports and entertainment stories that we followed this year.

Watch HuffPost Live’s full Black Voices Year in Review here.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live's new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Ferguson Protests
(01 of52)
Open Image Modal
Firefighters attempt to put out a burning building during riots after grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer Darren Wilson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(02 of52)
Open Image Modal
A police car is set ablaze during clashes with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
(03 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police confront protestors after rioting broke out following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
(04 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police gather on the street. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(05 of52)
Open Image Modal
car drives by a burning building during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
(06 of52)
Open Image Modal
A police car is set on fire after a group of protesters vandalise the vehicle. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(07 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police officers walk by a burning police car during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
(08 of52)
Open Image Modal
A man walks past a burning police vehicle during clashes between police and protesters over the decision in the shooting death 18-year-old Michael Brown. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
(09 of52)
Open Image Modal
.A row of cars burn at a used car lot during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
(10 of52)
Open Image Modal
A photographer runs by a burning building during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
(11 of52)
Open Image Modal
Protesters run for shelter as smoke fills the streets (credit:AP)
(12 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police officers watch the neighborhood as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(13 of52)
Open Image Modal
A grand jury has decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18-year-old whose fatal shooting sparked sometimes violent protests. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(14 of52)
Open Image Modal
Ferguson Market and Liquor store is vandalized after the announcement of the grand jury decision Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(15 of52)
Open Image Modal
A protester walks out of a store with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
(16 of52)
Open Image Modal
A protester squirts lighter fluid on a police car as the car windows are shuttered. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(17 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police guard the area as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
(18 of52)
Open Image Modal
People run as they come out a gas station with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
(19 of52)
Open Image Modal
Smoke fills the streets as some buildings are on fire after. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(20 of52)
Open Image Modal
A man steps out of a vandalised store. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(21 of52)
Open Image Modal
Ferguson Market and Liquor store is vandalised. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(22 of52)
Open Image Modal
A man runs from a police car that is set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(23 of52)
Open Image Modal
A protester walks out of a store with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
(24 of52)
Open Image Modal
A police officer takes cover. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
(25 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police officers watch the neighborhood as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(26 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police officers guard as protesters react to the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
(27 of52)
Open Image Modal
A protestor runs in front of a burning business during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
(28 of52)
Open Image Modal
A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protester. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(29 of52)
Open Image Modal
A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protesters. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(30 of52)
Open Image Modal
FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Demonstrators celebrate as a business burns after it was set on fire during rioting following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
(31 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police stand guard during rioting on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
(32 of52)
Open Image Modal
A police officer stands guard during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
(33 of52)
Open Image Modal
Looters run out of a business during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
(34 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police clash with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
(35 of52)
Open Image Modal
Protesters attack a police car during clashes. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
(36 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police officers in armored vehicles stand guard in front of the Ferguson police department during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
(37 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police confront protestors after rioting broke out. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
(38 of52)
Open Image Modal
Lesley McSpadden (L), mother of Michael Brown, reacts to the decision by the Grand Jury not to indict Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of her son, in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(39 of52)
Open Image Modal
Smoke fills the streets as some buildings are on fire (credit:AP)
(40 of52)
Open Image Modal
A protester squirts lighter fluid on a police car as the car windows are shuttered near the Ferguson Police Department (credit:AP)
(41 of52)
Open Image Modal
People gather around the burning stores (credit:AP)
(42 of52)
Open Image Modal
People walk away from a storage facility on fire (credit:AP)
(43 of52)
Open Image Modal
Cars burn at a dealership Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo. (credit:AP)
(44 of52)
Open Image Modal
A protestor stands in front of a burning car. (credit:AP)
(45 of52)
Open Image Modal
Cars burn at a dealership Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(46 of52)
Open Image Modal
People stand in front of one of many burning buildings after the riot erupted when the Grand Jury announced they will not indict white Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of black 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(47 of52)
Open Image Modal
People stand in front of one of many burning buildings after the riot erupted when the Grand Jury announced they will not indict white Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of black 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(48 of52)
Open Image Modal
People walk out of a gas station with goods as police arrive. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(49 of52)
Open Image Modal
Police officers grab a protester after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(50 of52)
Open Image Modal
A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
(51 of52)
Open Image Modal
A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage to a strip mall. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
(52 of52)
Open Image Modal
A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)