Tag: Atlanta

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Black Joy, Celebration, Holiday Celebration!!, On The Radar, Resources

Jubilation Day!! Happy Juneteenth!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Juneteenth is about freedom! On June 19th in 1865, two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops announced to over 250,000 unaware Black folks in Texas…that they were free! Over half a century later, in 2021, this day was officially named a federal holiday.

Here we are in 2025, revisiting the turbulent times of our horrid past. History is being erased, just as swiftly as it is to take a step forward, and freedom is back in question. Every day, I wonder what craziness will take place in these United States. But as we approach another Juneteenth, I am reminded that even when the message is late, it will still be received!

And even with all that is happening day by day, I am still encouraged! Juneteenth is another day to celebrate, find the joy in life, and reflect on the future!

—

Photo by Thomas Wilson on Pexels.com

As we prepare for another Juneteenth holiday, if you are looking for something to do to celebrate, check out what is happening in a city near you…

*Houston & Galveston, Texas: The Houston Museum of African American Culture will host its free Juneteenth celebration on June 19, with exhibitions, panels, face painting, immersive theater, and more. The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, an organization founded by formerly enslaved African Americans, is also. hosting a Juneteenth festival at their visitor center with events that include a fireside chat with the author and scholar Marc Lamont Hill. In Galveston, the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Juneteenth exhibit “And Still We Rise…” will be open daily from June 16 to 22 ($11.70 for adults). For more outdoor exploration, take a visit to the city’s landmarks on Galveston’s self-guided Freedom Walk map.

*Atlanta, Georgia: A few days after Juneteenth, on June 21, Camille Rose’s Beauté Noir Fest will feature a music performance by Atlanta native Mariah the Scientist, as well as panels, workshops, and food vendors.

*New York City, New York: In Manhattan on June 19, the Guggenheim, along with the DreamYard Projects’ Rad(ical) Poetry Consortium, is hosting a Late Shift event with poetry, dialogue, and performances. Tickets are free for members and $30 for adults. You can also check out the African Burial Ground National Monument, one of the most extensive known burial grounds in North America. On Juneteenth, the outdoor monument and the exhibits at the visitor center are free and open.

*Montgomery, Alabama: Check out some of these historical sites to reflect on Juneteenth. Visit the Legacy Museum, followed by a 15-minute river boat ride to the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. On June 19, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, one of the nation’s first memorials dedicated to Black Americans who were victims of lynchings, will be open and free to the public.

*Tulsa, Oklahoma: Once known as Black Wall Street, the Greenwood District is creating opportunities to observe Juneteenth while learning about Black History. Museums like Greenwood Rising are educating visitors on the district’s history as a “Black business mecca” and the site of racial violence during the Tulsa Massacre. (Tickets start at $15 for adults and $8 for children 17 and under.)

*Oakland, California: Check out the Hella Juneteenth Festival on June 19, put on by the Bay Area arts collective, Hella Creative. Events will feature music, vendors, and an outdoor market at the Oakland Museum of California. You can also take part in viewing the West Oakland Mural Project, a public art installation and nonprofit that highlights the history of Black women in the Black Panther Party. 

*Washington, D.C.: On June 19th, the Smithsonian will have a full day of free community events, including yoga, performances of spoken word and music, an interactive community mural and an urban gardening workshop. The National Museum of African American History and Culture also has free events for children with a reading of the book “Amazing Grace” and a music workshop. From June 19 to 22, the Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the National Archives Museum during museum hours (Free Admission).

*Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Explore the Germantown neighborhood and visit the Johnson House, once a way station on the Underground Railroad. The city will also host a parade (through West Philly) and festival on June 22, with celebrations continuing at an outdoor festival at Malcolm X Park.

As an extra bonus, check out this past episode where I talk with my friend and academic colleague about why Juneteenth Matters!!

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On the Desk...

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

This week’s line-up is definitely a memorable one!! Everything from the wildest party of the 90s in the South to the Martha’s Vineyard experience to tapping into one’s emotions. Lots of exciting material!! I can definitely see a few watch parties in the making!

Check out this week’s trailers below:

Homicide: New York (Streaming on Netflix-March 20th)

Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (Streaming on Hulu– March 21st)

Season 2-Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard (Streaming on Bravo-March 24th)

A Gentleman in Moscow (Streaming on Paramount +-March 29th)

Season 2-Loot (Streaming on Apple TV+ -April 3rd)

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Streaming on Hulu-April 26th)

Inside Out 2 (In theaters June 14th)

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Black Joy, Celebration, Feature Spotlight, On The Radar, Resources

Highlighting Black Museum Spaces, Cultural Heritage Sites, and Landmarks

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Black spaces like museums, cultural sites, and landmarks have always held a special place personally and professionally. These spaces and sites hold the memories, embody the knowledge, and offer a place to be at peace. As noted by Joy Bivins, director of collections and research services at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture “Black history museums began to exist in the mid-20th century as a response to Black Americans not being in existing museums.” Therefore, it is essential that these spaces and places exist!!

So if you are thinking about a roadtrip, wanting to take the family on an excursion, or just need a place to (re)explore, make a visit to one of these notable museum spaces:

  • Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit, MI): Through dozens of permanent and visiting exhibitions, over 150 learning and engagement programs, as well as education and research opportunities for adults, children, and visiting scholars, The Wright inspires visitors toward greater understanding, acceptance, and unity by reflecting on the triumphs and tragedies of African American history.
  • National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Atlanta, GA): The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum and human rights organization in Atlanta that inspires people to tap their own power to change the world around them. The Center’s iconic exhibitions feature the papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the history of the civil rights movement in the United States; and stories from the struggle for human rights around the world today.
  • The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration (Montgomery, AL): On the site of a cotton warehouse where enslaved Black people were forced to labor in bondage, the Legacy Museum tells the story of slavery in America and its legacy through interactive media, first-person narratives, world-class art, and data-rich exhibits. Travel through a comprehensive history of the destructive violence that shaped our nation, from the slave trade, to the era of Jim Crow and racial terror lynchings, to our current mass incarceration crisis—and find inspiration in our soaring Reflection Space and world-class art gallery.
  • Hampton University Museum (Hampton, VA): Founded in 1868, the Hampton University Museum is the nation’s oldest African American museum and one of the oldest museums in Virginia. With galleries dedicated to African American, African, Native American, Asian and Pacific art and artifacts. The museum contains more than 9,000 objects representing cultures and people from around the world. Within its fine arts collection is the largest existing collection of works in any museum by the artists John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence and Samella Lewis.
  • Mary McLeod Bethune Council House (Washington, DC): This house was the first national headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) and was Mary McLeod Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women.
  • Little Rock Central High School National Historic Park (Little Rock, AR): Explore the stories, people, and places that make up the moments of Central High’s desegregation by the Little Rock Nine and learn how the sacrifice and struggle over a half-century ago have provided opportunities and opened doors to those seeking equality—and education—around the world.
  • Mama Dip’s Kitchen (Chapel Hill, NC): Founded in 1976 by the Mildred Cotton Council Mama Dip’s Kitchen is a longtime fixture serving traditional Southern country cooking from breakfast to dinner plus Sunday brunch.
  • International African American Museum (Charleston, SC): The International African American Museum tells the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations, the trauma and triumph that gave rise to a resilient people.

Just know, this is just snapshot into where you can go!! Trust me when I say there are plenty more!! See For Yourself Here!

Here are a few new museums to be on the lookout for:

Posted in Black Joy, Celebration, Feature Spotlight, Holiday Celebration!!, On the Desk...

Watching, Listening, and Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

In celebration of Dr. King’s Birthday, I’m sharing some of my favorite speeches from him as well as a few films, documentaries, and television series that feature his life and legacy. Some of these are hidden gems, along with a few speeches and films that I have learned about through my time as a student and now professor. Check them out below:

Dr. G’s Fave Speeches from Dr. King:

Films, Documentaries, and Television Series [*Premium Subscription]

  • Genius: MLK/X (2024) [Set to be released on February 1st on National Geographic, Hulu, and Disney+]
  • King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis (1970) [Can be found on Apple TV and Amazon Prime*]
  • Eyes on the Prize series (1993) [Can be found on HBO Max and Amazon Prime*]
  • Boycott (2001) [Can be found here and on HBO Max]
  • Betty & Coretta [Can be found on Lifetime and Amazon Prime]
  • Selma (2014) [Can be found on Amazon Prime]
  • Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise (2016) [Can be found on Amazon Prime and PBS Documentaries]
  • I Am Not Your Negro (2017) [Can be watched on Amazon Prime]
  • King in the Wilderness (2018) [Can be watched here and on HBO Max]
  • I Am MLK Jr (2018) [Can be found on Amazon Prime and the CW]
  • MLK/FBI (2020) [Can be found on Hulu and Apple TV+]
  • Four Died Trying (2023) [Can be found on Apple TV+]
  • Rustin (2023) [Can be found on Netflix]

As an extra bonus, you can also check out this 360 Look at the National Civil Rights Museum which features Dr. King’s legacy.

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.”

~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Posted in Celebration, Feature Spotlight, On The Radar

#30DaysofBlackJoy…Day 3-Upcoming Summer Events!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year!! This is so for many reasons, one my Birthday (shout out to the Leos), the weather is AMAZING, and there is ALWAYS a plethora of things to do!! And folks that know me, know I am all about a good time!! Whether its traveling to a new place, going to the beach, checking out a music festival, or hanging out with family and friends, when my peeps say LET’S I’m replying GO!!

Photo by Adrien Olichon on Pexels.com

So today’s #BlackJoy moment is sharing some upcoming events that are sure to bring you some joy and happiness!! See what’s happening in a city, state, or country near you:

  • Odunde Festival (June 11) [Philadelphia, PA]: The ODUNDE festival, whose concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, celebrates the coming of another year for  African Americans and Africanized people around the world. ODUNDE is also known for its authentic African marketplace featuring vendors from around the world selling merchandise from African nations, the Caribbean and Brazil.
  • The Black Food & Wine Experience (June 11-18) [Oakland, CA]: Founded by Chef Mimi, its mission is to provide a space where hospitality and Black excellence are cultivated, celebrated, and explored by all. Throughout the week-long event, attendees will have the opportunity to sample a range of food and beverages that span the African Diaspora, meet industry veterans as well as up-and-coming Black chefs, winemakers and spirit makers, learn about the latest trends, and network among their fellow foodies and Black professionals.
  • American Black Film Festival (June 14-18) [Miami Beach, FL]: The American Black Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to empowering Black talent and showcasing film and television content by and about people of African descent.  It is widely considered the preeminent pipeline for Black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.
  • AfroNation (June 28-30) [Portimao, The Algarve, Portugal]: The 2023 edition of Afro Nation Portugal will bring together the best artists in Afrobeats, Amapiano, Hip Hop, RnB, Dancehall and more. Expect world-class production and iconic live performances and DJ sets over three unforgettable days.
  • DC Black Food & Wine (July 1) [Washington, DC]: The DC Black Food & Wine Festival will be overflowing with delicious food, wine, and vibes. From the minute you walk in, the mouth-watering aromas made your taste buds tingle with anticipation.
  • Essence Festival (June 29-July 3) [New Orleans, LA]: Essence Music Festival is the event that “Parties With a Purpose“. The EMF brings “star-studded” actors and actresses, major artists, empowerment workshops, shopping, food, and more to the famous City of New Orleans. Over the years, Essence Festival has been the highlight of New Orleans’ summer music scene.
  • CURLFEST® (July 15) [Randall’s Island Park, New York, NY]: CURLFEST®, the world’s largest natural beauty festival. This year’s theme, The Bounce Back, is a testament to resilience and commitment to creating safe spaces for our community to connect and build by way of art, music, and more. This summer, we’re bringing the best in hair and lifestyle while celebrating every expression of beauty from around the globe.
  • Reggae SumFest (July 16-22) [Montego Bay, Jamaica]: Reggae Sumfest is the island’s summer reggae festival held over a week with its main nights from Thursday to Saturday. Activities include an All White Blitz party, A Sound System Explosion, Beach Party and the main concerts. Among the artistes confirmed for Reggae Sumfest this year are Chronic Law and Kabaka Pyramid.
  • Caribana (August 3-7) [Toronto, Canada]: Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival is a three-week celebration of Caribbean music, cuisine, costumes, tradition and culture. This Caribbean tradition of parading through the street was founded in celebration of freedom and emancipation from slavery and is appropriately celebrated on what has been recognized by the Canadian government as Emancipation Day weekend.
  • Bill Picket Rodeo Series (August 5) [Atlanta, GA]: The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo celebrates and honor Black Cowboys and Cowgirls and their contributions to building the west. We highlight the irrefutable global appeal of Black Cowboys and Cowgirls in the West and the stories behind a sub-culture that is still strong today. BPIR also serves as a cultural event and opportunity for families to enjoy and embrace the cowboy culture, while being educated and entertained with reenactments, history highlights, and western adventure.
  • The Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival (August 18-19) [Norfolk, VA]: The Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival is the area’s longest-running outdoor jazz festival with some of the biggest names on the international smooth jazz scene. The two-day festival will be held in a beautiful summertime setting at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront.
Photo by Rahul Pandit on Pexels.com

These are just a few of the MANY events that will be taking place all over the global diaspora!!

So mark your calendars…Get your flights in order!! Gather your friends and family!! And start storing up that energy!!

See You Tomorrow!!

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

It’s the first of the month and the first of the new year!! Great thing about film and television is that it never ends! So let’s not waste anytime and get right to these trailers, check them out below ⬇️:

Will Trent (Streaming on ABC January 3rd)

https://youtu.be/9VSSwTZqnmI

Season 2-Ginny & Georgia (Streaming on Netflix January 5th)

Season 2-BMF (Streaming on STARZ January 6th)

Final Season-Hunters (Streaming on Prime Video January 13th)

The Last of Us (Streaming on HBO Max January 15th)

When You Finish Saving the World (In theaters January 20th)

Extraordinary (Streaming on Hulu January 25th)

Posted in Feature Spotlight, On the Desk...

For All My ATL Folks! “Our Friend Jean: HBCU Tour” at Clark Atlanta University Art Museum

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

For my ATL peeps!! This might be something of interest for you!! As part of the HBCU Exhibition Tour, Our Friend Jean is a one-week Pop up Exhibition Featuring 20+ of Jean-Michel Basquiat “Early Works“.

Our Friend, Jean is a sampling of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s earliest works on loan from several collectors who knew him intimately, as friends, collaborators, and lovers. Featuring 20+ artworks including drawings, writings, apparel, mixed media collages, and ephemera. The group of collectors consists of Jane Diaz, Hilary Jaeger, Katie Taylor, Lucy Sante, Al Diaz, and photographer Alexis Adler who also served as a co-curator with Erwin John and Stevenson Dunn, Jr.. Through this exhibition each collector shares uniquely intimate stories of their friend Jean.

The exhibition lends a voice to the unsung collectors of the world, those who offer an artist critical early support out of genuine friendship. It is precisely this type of support that can spring board an artist’s career to unimaginable heights. Friendship is what distinguishes the group of collectors who are lending their works to the “Our Friend, Jean” exhibition.

This exhibition was curated by The Bishop Gallery and supported by the Hennessey, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and The Black Group.

The exhibition is free and will be housed at the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum from October 28-November 4.

For more information and to register to attend, see here!!

Posted in Dr. G's Weekly Hot Topics, Feature Spotlight, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Weekly Hot Topics!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Let me tell you!! I am excited about this week’s Hot Topics!! I got some goodies on deck for you!! So much happening in the world!! Check it out below and see for yourself:

  • Fresh off the press!! The new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer just dropped and it is stunning!! It hits theaters November 11th! Tickets are on sale now, so make sure you grab yours…I got mine!! In addition to the trailer, check out this feature piece from EW as they go behind the scenes with director Ryan Coogler and the cast to discuss the sequel.
  • And a special shout out to my alma mater Clark Atlanta University!! Just a few short days ago, CAU was been selected as the home of the New PROPEL Center, a global headquarters for innovation. It will serve as a global HBCU technology and innovation hub committed to strengthening the Black talent pipeline. The location is approximately 5.2 acres and will hold special historic and cultural significance to the CAU campus. As noted by CAU president George T. French, Jr., Ph.D., “Here at Clark Atlanta University, our leadership, faculty, and students are humbled to be a partner in the launch of the PROPEL Center and to have the opportunity to execute this long-term partnership.”
  • Over across the pond there is a new arts group, the Africa Arts Collective, that is aiming to “showcase African artists and aid in community cohesion.” The Africa Arts Collective is a “new multi-disciplinary arts group aims to showcase African talent living in Northern Ireland, and aid community cohesion.” According to Rahim Saphy, an acrobat, dancer and comedian from Tanzania, “the Africa Arts Collective will bring joy, vibrancy, colour and inspiration to the local arts scene.” 
Dancer Cuthbert Tura Arutura and acrobat Rahim Saphy at the launch of the African Arts Collective in Belfast Picture date: Saturday October 1, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Arts. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire
  • Over the weekend, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson completed her formal swearing-in ceremony on Friday September 30th. As told by Brown Jackson during her initial confirmation speech, “It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. But we’ve made it…We’ve made it. All of us.”
  • And closing out this week…A new medical school is being proposed at Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD), the first at an HBCU in 45 years!! As relayed by CBS News, Morgan State is teaming up with Ascension St. Agnes Hospital to launch a for-profit, private medical school, which will provide more opportunities for undeserving students. The school is set to open in 2024 and will have 700 students and 150 employees.

Posted in Dr. G's Weekly Hot Topics, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Weekly Hot Topics!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Happy Monday!! Boy do I have some goodies to share with you all this week!! So let’s dive right on in:

  • For all my ATL folks…The High Museum of Art is hosting the first museum survey dedicated to photographer Deana Lawson. From this global lens “working primarily in photography, Lawson investigates and challenges conventional representations of Black identities and bodies.” The Deanna Lawson exhibition opens on Oct. 7, for more details go to HighMuseum.org .
Deana Lawson (American, born 1979), “DL Roxie and Raquel” pigment print and collaged photograph, courtesy of the artist; Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York; and David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles. © Deana Lawson.
  • The Dutch Government has created a fund to apologize for their historic role in slavery. From 1596 to 1829, the Dutch took part in transporting nearly a half a million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean. The fund is set to be announced after the nation officially apologizes for its role by the end of this year or the beginning of 2023. It is said that the fund may be as large as 200 million euros. Additionally, European Central Bank Governing Council member Klaas Knot, who is also president of the bank, addressed his apology to the descendants of enslaved people and set up a fund to finance projects worth 5 million euros over the next 10 years in the Netherlands, Suriname and the Caribbean.
  • Ben & Jerry is rebranding their “Change is Brewing” flavor as a way to help protect voting rights and encourage young Black voter turnout ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The rebranded ice cream is being distributed at historically Black colleges and universities and in large cities and rural communities across Southern states as part of the Black Voters Matter Fund’s  “We Won’t Black Down” tour, which kicked off Sept. 14.
  • Michelle Obama Portraitist Amy Sherald is set unveil her first European show!! Sherald’s collection of paintings titled, The World We Make is set to be housed at Hauser & Wirth London from October 12 to December 23. Through her paintings, Sherald sees them as “a place to reflect. I want it to be as open, expansive and universal in a sense. I want my work to be a gift to Black people.”
The Make Believer (Monet’s Garden), [Artwork by Amy Sherald-Hauser & Wirth]
“For Love, and For Country”,
[Artwork by Amy Sherald-Hauser & Wirth]
  • Meet Princess Isis Lang, the creator of the “Cardinal Divas” at the University of Southern California. Lang, is currently a musical theater major at the University of Southern California (USC), and the creator of the school’s first-ever majorette team. The Cardinal Divas made their formal debut at the USC vs. Fresno State football game on September 17th. As noted by Lang, “you can look forward to seeing us at these home games on the big screen, showing young Black girls that they can do anything that they think to do.” 
  • And lastly, just as the football season gets to rolling, we get some major news about Super Bowl LVII...Rihanna, with style and grace, has officially confirmed that she will be performing at Super Bowl LVII!! The 57th Super Bowl will take place on February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Posted in On the Desk..., On The Radar

For All My ATL Youth Gamers!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Calling all my youth gamers and esports fans in the ATL!! Check out this awesome 2-day FREE conference!! Free.99… you cannot beat that!! I am always about supporting friends and family and the good folks over at Pharoah’s Conclave definitely fall into that category!!

See more details below:

Greater Atlanta Residents, REGISTER TODAY! 

Youth Esports League National Championship & Conference is a FREE 2-day eSports conference for K-12 students.

JUNE 24TH & 25TH 10AM- 4PM

Atlanta Metropolitan State College’s Pavilion-1630 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Overview: YEL National Championship & Conference

Youth eSports League National Championships & Conference is a free 2-day eSports conference that exposes the entry points to eSports careers. It features team and individual tournament play, hands-on workshops and panels with eSports and video gaming professionals, an expo the DoorDash Game Design Challenge, and so much more! Check out a recap of last year’s event below.

About PCX Go!

PCX GO! builds on PCX’s mission of preparing youth for eSports careers through capacity building around eSports career pathways, providing the ecosystem with the infrastructure needed to support all key stakeholders in building skills and capabilities that apply to the eSports industry to:

Inform – Identifying entry points into the industry

Instruct – Explaining the necessary steps it takes to navigate career pathways within the eSports industry through skill and capability development

Educate – Providing opportunities to apply instruction in real-world contexts to promote learning and develop eSports professionals

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to email info@pharaohsconclave.com

Don’t wait another minute….REGISTER NOW!!