For All My Richmond Folks!!
Check me out this Thursday as I take part in this week’s VCU AFAM Community Lecture!! During this lecture, I will discuss what Afrofuturism is, how it centers Black stories, and how it evolves in response to the contemporary cultural moment.
It’s all going down Thursday, October 9th, 6-7pm, at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch, in the Gellman Room. Hope to see you there!!
This new season of film and television is quickly approaching us, and I cannot wait!! While summer is one of my favorite seasons, Fall has it on lock with the film and television! So let’s check out this week’s trailers below:
Season 4-The Morning Show (Streaming on Apple TV+ September 17th)
Swiped (Streaming on Hulu September 19th)
The Low Down (Streaming on FX September 23rd)
Marvel Animation’s Marvel Zombies (Streaming on Disney+ September 24th)
Play Dirty (Streaming on Prime Video October 1st)
Bugonia (In theaters October 24th)
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (In theaters November 26th and Streaming on Netflix December 12th)
Did you miss last week’s Meet VCU Authors? Well, guess what, you are in luck!! You can check out my talk from last week on my new Audible, “From the Wiz to Wakanda: Afrofuturism in Pop Culture”!
Last week’s talk was truly an amazing experience. I LOVE when I get to geek out about things that I not only have a professional relationship with, but that I also LOVE!!
Thank you to those who tuned in and to all the future listeners!!
And don’t forget, if you want to listen to the whole series, check it out here!!
Got a new set of films and TV shows all ready for you to view! A new season is upon us! Check out this week’s trailers below:
Season 4-The Morning Show (Streaming on Apple TV+ September 17th)
HIM (In theaters September 19th)
Swiped (Streaming on Hulu September 19th)
The Home (In theaters September 23rd)
Ballad of a Small Player (Streaming on Netflix October 15th)
Hedda (Streaming on Prime Video October 29th)
Pluribus (Streaming on Apple TV+ November 7th)
As July comes to a close, let me get you ready for the Fall TV lineup. Check out this week’s trailers below:
Alien: Earth (Streaming on FX/Hulu August 12th)
Season 2-Peacemaker (Streaming on HBO Max August 21st)
Hostage (Streaming on Netflix August 21st)
Season 2-Gen V (Streaming on Prime Video September 17th)
The Last Frontier (Streaming on Apple TV+ October 10th)
Talamasca: The Secret Order (Streaming on AMC+ October 26th)
IT: Welcome to Derry (Streaming on HBO Max October 2025)
On Saturday, in conjunction with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, I will participate in a panel discussion on the significance and importance of the Black Press.
From street corners to kitchen tables, Black-owned newspapers and media outlets have long been a lifeline for truth, resistance, and community in Virginia. This panel brings together journalists, historians, and cultural leaders to honor the enduring power of the Black press—from the bold reporting of The Richmond Planet to today’s digital storytellers reclaiming narrative power in the face of ongoing erasure. Together, we’ll explore the vital role Black media has played in documenting lynchings, exposing injustice, celebrating triumphs, and preserving Black history when mainstream outlets would not. Drawing on the legacy of figures like John Mitchell Jr. and echoing the words of thinkers like Phyl Garland and W.E.B. Du Bois, this conversation will trace the arc of Black media’s impact—from folklore and griots to journalism and social media.
I look forward to seeing all who can attend!
Free to attend. You can register here!!
Happy Monday!! I am SUPER excited to finally share….I’m officially on @audible !! When this opportunity came across my email inbox, I literally had to re-read the message several times to make sure I was not tripping!! Seeing it all come together is a process I will never forget! Grateful and Thankful!!
A dream come true!! Bucket list item checked off!! Let me just say this: researching, writing, and the actual recording were no joke, but I am sooooo glad I did it!! This was such an amazing opportunity to create and write a six-episode series titled, “From the Wiz to Wakanda: Afrofuturism in Pop Culture”!!
The series, which can be found on Audible and The Great Courses, explores:
Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that seeks to explore and transform the experience of the African diaspora. Stretching across multiple art forms and genres, the movement taps into the limitless potential of creativity and the imagination to envision Black liberation through stories, music, architecture, fashion, music, and so much more.
In the six lessons of From The Wiz to Wakanda: Afrofuturism in Pop Culture, Grace D. Gipson of Virginia Commonwealth University will trace the history of the movement and introduce you to the writers, artists, and creators who are revisiting the past as they build a new vision for the future. From the work of pioneering Black writers like W. E. B. DuBois to the blockbuster Black Panther films and beyond, you’ll see how Afrofuturism is an ongoing cultural project that grows stronger and more multifaceted with each new generation of Afrofuturist creators.
A movement of both reclamation and innovation, Afrofuturism offers unique perspectives that will only continue to grow and evolve, challenging us to rethink the way we engage with history, pop culture, and our conception of the future. By fostering creative visions that push boundaries and shatter stereotypes, the Afrofuturist movement brings new, diverse narratives to life that are transforming our pop culture landscape in revolutionary ways.
When it is all said and done, Afrofuturism is a cultural and social movement that continues to evolve and transform the landscape of pop culture!!
Such an awesome experience!! #DrGChronicles #PopCultureScholar #Afrofuturism #CreativeScholarship
I hope you enjoy!! Let me know what you think!!
Check it out here and share with your friends!!
As another Back Music Month comes to an end, I reflect back on the ongoing impact of Black Music not just in the United States but worldwide. As an avid concertgoer and overall music fan, I cannot emphasize enough the role that music, and even more so, Black Music has on society. Just look at the recent news of the joint Brandy & Monica concert, the ongoing “Cowboy Carter” tour with Beyoncé, and the many music festivals happening this summer across the globe.
Black Music Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the profound influence of African American musicians on American music and culture, not just in June, but also provides something to embrace all year long. As summer begins, it’s a great time to reflect on the diverse genres and artists that have shaped the music landscape, from blues and jazz to gospel, hip-hop, and R&B, among many others.
To close out this year’s Black Music Month: NPR Tiny Desk Features, let’s see who’s bringing the heat, and a brief reminder of how this month came to be…check them out below:
—
Alex Isley
Living Colour
Rico Nasty
Just in case you may have missed this year’s NPR’s Tiny Desk Black Music Month line-up, see the celebrated music albums’ anniversaries being featured:
As noted by Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk Concerts host and producer. “These artists might not be the first you hear in the Pop culture conversation, but they are crown jewels in Black culture. These are our icons.“
As we continue our celebration of Black Music Month, I wanted to share some additional ways you can celebrate:
And just like last week, let’s see what is in store with our Tiny Desk Concerts this week….
CeCe Winans
Stanley Clarke
Beenie Man
Check out this upcoming Summertime Talk!!
For all my Norfolk, Suffolk, 757 (and even Richmond) folks, come check me out as I talk with my friend and colleague Dr. Kaniqua Robinson about Blackness and Horror in the films “Sinners,” “The Blackening,” and “Woman In The Yard” 🎥 !!
Definitely gonna be a fun-filled time!!
Check out the details on the flyer below!!
If you need a refresher, check out the trailers below:
Sinners
Woman in the Yard
The Blackening
Black Future Feminist 