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!!
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)
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!!
Well, folks, I’m back with a few pop culture nuggets! Nothing like sharing some exciting news and updates. This week we have a range of topics including BASL representation, Black hair care, comic book teaser alerts, and Adidas footwear.
Check this week’s news below:
Making HUGE moves for the BASL community…Right on time for its July 4th release on Max, fans of the acclaimed film Sinners will be able to watch it two ways: by 1) streaming the exact theatrically released version, and 2) choosing Sinners in Black American Sign Language (BASL).
According to Warner Bros., this is the first time a streaming service has interpreted a film into BASL. According to Max, the release of Sinners in BASL marks “a major step forward in accessibility, representation and visibility in streaming. Interpreted by Nakia Smith, she is “an influential voice in the Black Deaf community, who delivers a powerful interpretation with cultural depth and linguistic richness that aligns with the film’s themes and historical timeline.”
Nothing like the perfect cocktail for your hair…Just in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the popular “Girlfriends” show, Tracee Ellis Ross is turning mixology into hairology through her PATTERN hair care line. Described by Ross in a press release, “Hair cocktailing is a common practice in our community—we layer curl gels, creams, oils and more to create a personalized formula that works best for our own hair.” As noted in Essence, with almost six years on the market, PATTERN’s very first commercial gives air to a wash day ritual Black women almost instinctively do.
The products include a Styling Cream and a Strong Hold Gel, which can be used to shape a bouffant afro, as well as the Curl Gel and Leave-In Conditioner to define coils. Lastly, there is the Curl Mousse for definition and shine.
It looks like we may see DC’s first Black Female Superhero, Nubia, on a television or film screen near you in the near future. While waiting on news about Batman in The Brave and the Bold and the DCU’s plans for Wonder Woman, an interviewer (Pay or Wait) slyly asked famed director James Gunn about the addition of two other characters, Nubia and Static Shock. As one of DC’s most significant but underused characters (sometimes connected to Wonder Woman), Gunn explains “I am very aware of Nubia. And yes, we are very much talking about that, and I want to have all sorts of people represented in the DCU and, yeah, you might be very happy in the not too distant future.” Although a release date has not been set, I look forward to seeing what happens with the character on the big screen.
In more comic news, from Marvel Animation, viewers get a sneak peek into another part of Wakanda in the 4-part series, Eyes of Wakanda.
The series casts a stellar, dynamic voice cast including Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint, Anika Noni Rose , and Isaac Robinson-Smith. It will be the first series of Phase Six of the MCU.
See the teaser trailer below, set to stream on Disney Plus August 27th:
Looks like Samuel L. Jackson is making his mark in the shoe game, as he lends his voice to a new Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign. The campaign is set to honor the timeless silhouettes of Adidas through storytelling. This teaser marks the first installment in a multipart campaign featuring a cross-generational roster of creatives. In a statement from the brand, “When icons wear icons, culture moves.” For a brief history of the Adidas Original Superstar shoe, see here.
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:
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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.“
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!
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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!!
We have entered another Black Music Month celebration and there is so much music to dive into! A little background on the yearly celebration! Also known as African American Music Appreciation Month, it is an annual celebration in the United States that takes place every June. Designated by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 , BMM is a time to recognize and appreciate the contributions of African American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters to American culture.
The month serves as a celebration of the enduring impact and legacy of Black musicians and their creativity on American music, culture, and history.
And just like last year, I look forward to sharing NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert features for the month. This year’s Black Music Month-Tiny Desk Concerts “honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture.”
So let’s see what we have in store this week…
E-40
Amerie
Wiz Khalifa
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 