Need a few suggestions to get you through this week? Ready for the summer? Check out this week’s trailers below:
Season 4- Evil (Streaming on Paramount+ – May 23rd)
Bionic (Streaming on Netflix-May 29th)
The Acolyte (Streaming on Disney + – June 4th)
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (In theaters June 7th)
Longing (In theaters June 7th)
Horizon: An American Saga (In theaters June 28th)
Cross (Coming Soon to Prime Video)
It’s Day 2 of the Reclaiming Her Time: The Book Journey!! Another productive day in the writing game! I really felt the juices flowing today, so when I say I was riding the wave … I was moving and shaking!
Now I know I dived right into this new adventure on yesterday, so I just wanted to give some backdrop to what is taking place! So this “Reclaiming Her Time” journey is all about my first book manuscript titled, Reclaiming Her Time: Exploring Black Futures in the Black Female Superhero…when I say I am super excited about this project words cannot even begin to express! This project is very much like my baby. You gotta feed it, nurture it, give it sustenance and so much more! Never did I think I would get an opportunity to write about something that I treasure and love so much….Black Female Superheroes, but the day has come.
I am currently working on a chapter about Regina King’s character Sister Night/Angela Abar in the HBO/Max series “Watchmen.” Her specific story in this award-winning television series is one that engages with many topics including self-agency, being perfectly imperfect, historical trauma, family legacies, and so much more. Watching her story play out is one that inspires, excites, and adds another layer to the greatness that is a Black woman!! She is one of the many Black female comic book heroes that I will be examining in the book.
So over the summer, you will get a chance to see how this all plays out. The inner workings, the highs and lows, and all the wins!! I am super amped that you will be a part of this journey with me!!
Till the next time!! ~Dr. G
So I know it has been quite a while since I’ve dropped some HOT TOPICS, but it’s never too late to share…especially when SO MUCH is happening in the world!! Day to day there is always something going on, particularly within pop culture.
And without further ado, check out this week’s Hot Topics!!
Ever wanted to know more about Black cowboy culture? With the Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves and the Netflix film The Harder They Fall , I know my interest has been piqued. And as a fan of westerns and cowboy culture, this new photography book celebrating Black Rodeo Culture in the US will definitely be making its way to my coffee table!! Dropping in April of this year, Eight Seconds: Black Rodeo Culture: Photographs by Ivan McClellan highlights decades of work capturing the many journeys of what it is like to be a part of contemporary Black rodeo culture in America.
Referring to the minimum amount of time a rider has to stay on a horse or other livestock in order to register a score during a competition, Eight Seconds provides a visual glance into world that is often forgotten!
New Beats Solo headphones campaign features some #BlackGirlMagic with WNBA star Angel Reese, track & field star Sha’Carri Richardson, and tennis champion Naomi Osaka!!
This all-new line of Beats Solo Buds can be purchased in four new colors including Matte Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple and Transparent Red, retailing at $79.99. For the new Solo headphones, you can purchase them in Matte Black, Slate Blue and Cloud Pink ($199.99), which all three ladies are sporting in the campaign.
For all my P-Valley fans!! To tide us over until Season 3 comes back, fans can tune into the upcoming documentary series, Down in the Valley. Inspired by the hit series P-Valley from executive producers Katori Hall and Nicco Annan, Down in the Valley is a six-half-hour episode series hosted by Annan (also known as ‘Uncle Clifford’) where he takes viewers on a “tantalizing tour of the Deep South, where they will be “immersed in the people, sensuality, music, culture and stories of the South. From strip clubs to sex workshops, rap performances, and ancient hoodoo rituals.”
Down in the Valley will “pull back the curtain on the surprising but always intriguing people and places that make the Deep South a place where anything can happen and usually does.” The series is set to premiere on July 5th!! And I can’t wait!!
Now here is another documentary, that I AM DEFINITELY looking forward to watching, however with this one we will have to wait a little minute lol…On May 15th CNN announced that CNN Films, in partnership with OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, acquired the documentary feature Luther: Never Too Much, from award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter (CNN Films John Lewis: Good Trouble).
Luther: Never Too Much chronicles the story of a vocal genius. “Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Vandross tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack.” Luther: Never Too Much premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January to raving reviews and a standing ovation!!
Here’s something to quench your thirst… Welch’s is set to jump on the wagon by releasing some tasty canned cocktails! As noted by Ryan Stump (Coop Beverage Works’ vice president of business operations), “We are extremely excited to partner with Welch’s to create this lineup of Craft Cocktails that will bring classic cocktail recipes to the market with the fruit juice flavors that Welch’s is known for.” These juicy adult drinks will come in four flavors (each made with real fruit juice and spirits, and come in at 5.9% ABV): Vodka Transfusion, Vodka Cranberry, Watermelon Mule, and Passion Fruit Mojito!!
The new canned cocktails are set to ship soon to retailers in select states. Makes me wonder whose gonna be next in the canned cocktail game?!!
And to get you ready to jam to some live music, check out these upcoming festivals:
TwoGether Land (May 25-26) [Dallas, TX]
Roots Picnic (June 1-2) [Philadelphia, PA]
Governors Ball (June 7-9) [Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, NY]
Capital Jazz Fest (June 7-9) [Columbia, MD]
Blavity House Party (June 14-15) [Nashville, TN]
Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival (June 15-16) [Hollywood, CA]
Summer Smash (June 21-23) [Bridgeview, IL]
Cincinnati Music Festival (July 25-27) [Cincinnati, OH]
Broccoli City (July 27-28) [Washington, DC]
Afro Nation Detroit (August 17-18) [Detroit, MI]
Fool In Love (August 31) [Hollywood, CA]
Music At The Intersection (September 14-15) [St. Louis, MO]
Rolling Loud Miami (December 13-15) [Miami, FL]
Today starts a new personal and professional journey! Over the next couple of months, I will be sharing my writing journey as I begin the completion of my first book manuscript project. As part of being a university professor, I have embarked on an evaluation process called tenure and promotion. Thus, writing and completing the book is essential to the evaluative process.
Now I will say this I am a mix of emotions from excited, to anxious, to nervous, to invested, to even being curious! So with each post, this will be like a check-in or place for accountability. Writing these posts will help me to focus and be honest with myself. Some days will be good, some days may be just blah, and some days will be a mess. Each day will bring me closer to the final goal, which is a completed book project!
So today’s post is to bring you along on this journey, give you some insight, and prepare you for a roller coaster ride (hopefully you hang in there with me)! Coinciding with this new beginning, I also started on another journey, something like a journey within in a journey. While there is a larger journey and goal, I will also take some small ones that will definitely go towards the larger end goal. With that said, I completed my first day of a Summer Writing Sprint that I am participating in with Well Academic! For two weeks during a dedicated time I will be writing with other scholars across the map. Nothing like being with a group of like-minded thinkers and writers getting together for a structured time to get the work done!!
You know what?? I made it through!! Day 1 was a success, I completed my daily goals and was able to map out what I will do on tomorrow!
Not too much more to say, except I look forward to taking you on this journey! Keep in mind the days will vary, so just think of each day as a new surprise! Feel free to drop any words of wisdom, inspiring quotes, or just to say hello!
See you all tomorrow!! ~Dr. G
Summer looks like it is going to be very promising for television and film!! Looking forward to it!! Check out this week’s trailer’s below:
Season 3-The Outlaws (Streaming on Prime Video-May 31st)
Queenie (Streaming on Hulu-June 7th)
Hit Man (Streaming on Netflix-June 7th)
Orphan Black: Echoes (Streaming on AMC+ – June 23rd)
Fancy Dance (Streaming on Apple TV+ – June 28th)
Season 4-Only Murders in the Building (Streaming on Hulu-August 27th)
The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power (Streaming on Prime Video-August 29th)
Happy Tuesday!! You didn’t think I forgot about ya??!! Not at all!! April Showers bring May Flowers!! Well at least here in Richmond :-)!! As those rainy days turn into days full of sunshine, don’t forget to pick up a book or two to get you through the day! Closing out the month with some literary goodies!! And as always, Don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!
Check out April’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:
As an Extra Bonus…If you are in the Atlanta area, check out The Negro Motorist Green Book, an exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with award-winning author, photographer and cultural documentarian, Candacy Taylor. This exhibition offers an immersive look at the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America and how the annual guide served as an indispensable resource for the nation’s rising African American middle class and evidence of a vibrant business class. The Negro Motorist Green Book exhibit will be on display at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, GA till June 23rd, 2024…See More Info Here
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And as always, remember you can always go back and check out 2023’s lists and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!
Closing out the month of April with some new deets to move us into Spring and then Summer!! Check out this week’s trailers below:
Black Twitter: A People’s History (Streaming on Hulu-May 9th)
Season 2-Pretty Little Liars Summer School (Streaming on Max-May 9th)
Maxton Hall (Streaming on Prime Video-May 9th)
The Big Cigar (Streaming on Apple TV+– May 17th)
Jim Henson Idea Man (Streaming on Disney+– May 31st)
Season 3-Mayor of Kingstown (Streaming on Paramount +– June 2nd)
Clipped (Streaming on Hulu-June 8th)
Trap (In theaters August 9th)
I may have been gone for a minute but the trailers still do not disappoint!! These trailers are HOT LIKE FIRE!! Check out this week’s trailers below:
Them: The Scare (Streaming on Prime Video-April 25th)
Season 3-Hacks (Streaming on Max-May 2nd)
Dark Matter (Streaming on Apple TV+ -May 8th)
Season 2-Interview with a Vampire (Streaming on AMC+ May 12th)
Season 3-Bridgerton (Streaming on Netflix– May 16th)
Season 4-Evil (Streaming on Paramount + – May 24th)
Joker: Folie à Deux (In theaters October 4th)
Excited to share another upcoming event that I will be participating in this Thursday with my friends at Suffolk Public Library!!
Suffolk Discovers: Afrofuturism
Afrofuturism expresses notions of Black identity, agency and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life. With musicians such as Sun Ra, Parliament, and Janelle Monáe, visual artists like Wangechi Mutu, and authors such as Octavia Butler, Afrofuturism imagines the potential of African diasporic futures without the effects of colonialism, capitalism, and racism among other things. In recent work like the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther movies though, there is a strain of doubt introduced into the hopefully utopian vision of Afrofuturist societies such as Wakanda.
Thursday, April 18th, 2024, 6-7:30 pm
North Suffolk Library (Conference Room), 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Road Suffolk, VA 23435
During the panel discussion we will explore the following questions/thoughts:
You can tune via Zoom or in-person!! Register Here!
Black Future Feminist 