Tag: Black History 365

Posted in On the Desk..., Feature Spotlight, Celebration

#30DaysofBlackJoy…Day 2-Black Music Appreciation Month

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Not only am I celebrating 30 Days of Black Joy this June, but it is also Black Music Appreciation Month!!

Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the Black/African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage. In a 2019 official proclamation from the White House they note,

“Throughout American history, African American music has reflected our Nation’s challenges and triumphs and has always enriched our Nation’s culture.  During African American Music Appreciation Month, we pay tribute to the talented and inspiring African American artists who have given sound and voice to the full range of human emotions through the blues, jazz, gospel, rock and roll, rap, hip hop, and other genres. This month, we celebrate the countless contributions of African American singers, composers, and musicians, who have influenced and shaped every genre and style of music.  They have turned universally shared emotions and experiences of suffering, joy, passion, pain, faith, injustice, and love into art that speaks to the heart and spirit of any American.  African American music has the power to encourage, inspire, and affect social change.  It transcends time, compelling generation after generation to sing, dance, think, and feel, and it endures in our culture, our history, our spirit, and our collective national soul.”

For me, music has multiple uses. It’s relaxing…it’s therapeutic…I’m always tuned into something to get me through my day!! In the words of President Biden, “We celebrate Black artists who have used their songs to stand up to injustice, fight for equality, and reflect a mirror on society — reminding us all of our enduring obligation to deliver the promise of America for all Americans.” In many ways this is definitely also a reflection of my thoughts!! 

Myself enjoying some soul-soothing sounds at the Roots Picnic in Philly…Reppin’ A Tribe Called Quest!!

Today’s #BlackJoy moment, and for each Friday in June, I will share a curated playlist celebrating some of my favorite Black songs and artists! Check out this week’s playlist below:

What are some of your favorite songs and artists?! Feel free to share some of your favorite Black songs and artists, in the comments, and maybe one of your faves might make the list :-)!!

See you tomorrow!!

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Celebration

#30DaysofBlackJoy…Day 1-Sharing Your Sunshine!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Why Black Joy? Why not? Who doesn’t want to share the joys of life…The things that make you smile or laugh…Or the feel-good moments!! I am super excited about these next few weeks! Over the course of the next 30 days, I will be sharing my moments of Black Joy! These moments may be personal to me, a creative expression, or some sort of acknowledgment or spotlight. Regardless of how big or small, I hope it brings some sort joy, provide some encouragement, or simply put a smile on your face!

Today’s Black Joy moment is an affirmation that I wanted to share…

As I ALWAYS say, “Sharing is Caring!” Why keep that sunshine to yourself, when you can spread it around!

See you tomorrow!!

Posted in Black Bookstore Adventures, Feature Spotlight, On The Radar, Resources

Dr. G’s Black Bookstore Adventures-Mahogany Books (DC/MD)

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Made a quick trip to the DMV and finally got a chance to go and visit Mahogany Books!! Even picked up a few goodies :-)!

So if you are in the DMV area make sure to check out Mahogany Books!! I know I will definitely make a few return trips!!

And I look forward to sharing more Black Bookstore Adventure visits!!

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-April 2023

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Closing out the month with a literary bang!! They say “April Showers bring May Flowers,” well I would like to think that these books are a version of those April Showers. As we prepare to jump into the Spring season why not add a few books to your personal shelves!!

Check out April’s List Below:

  • Homebodies ~Tembe Denton-Hurst
  • Summer on Sag Harbor ~Sunny Hostin
  • The Wreck: A Daughter’s Memoir of Becoming a Mother ~Cassandra Jackson
  • Blood Scion ~Deborah Falaye
  • Black Birds in the Sky ~Brandy Colbert
  • Love Radio ~Ebony LaDelle
  • The Haunting of Alejandra ~V. Castro
  • When We Were Sisters ~Fatimah Asghar

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!!” ~Madam C.J. Walker

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

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Check out this week’s new set of trailers!! Getting you ready for the Spring and Summer !!

Polite Society (In theaters April 28th)

Queen Cleopatra (Streaming on Netflix May 10th)

Class of ’09 (Streaming on FX May 10th)

High Desert (Streaming on Apple TV+ May 17th)

Muted (Streaming on Netflix May 19th)

Fast X (In theaters May 19th)

Talk To Me (In theaters July 28th)

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-March 2023

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

We are rocking and rolling through another list of recommended reads!! This month is dedicated to telling “Her” story as we celebrate Women’s History Month! Much like every month I try to mix it up to include graphic novels, coming-of-age stories, diasporic and world literature, stories of the American dream, romance, and historical fiction. Nothing like adding a few more literary reads to your library!!

Check out March’s List Below:

  • Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts ~Rebecca Hall
  • Maame ~Jessica George
  • Queenie: Godmother of Harlem ~Elizabeth Colomba
  • The Middle Daughter ~Chika Unigwe
  • Behold the Dreamers ~Imbolo Mbue
  • The Sun is Also a Star ~Nicola Yoon
  • Such a Fun Age ~Kiley Reid
  • Twice As Hard : The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians, from the Civil War to the 21st Century ~Jasmine Brown

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Where there is a woman there is magic.” — Ntozake Shange

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

Dr. G’s Weekly Hot Topics!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

New Month and a New Set of Hot Topics!! Check them out below :

Living History…Medal of Honor awarded to one of the first Black U.S. Special Forces officers…Nearly 60 years overdue, on March 3rd President Biden awarded retired Army Colonel Paris Davis the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military’s most prestigious decoration, for Davis’ acts of valor as a commander during the Vietnam War. Now 83 years old, retired Army Colonel Davis was one of the first Black officers to lead a U.S. Special Forces team in combat. 

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Course correcting the history of gynecology…In partnership with the “Under-Told Stories” project at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, Alabama artist Michelle Browder is looking to change the historical narrative around the history of gynecology.

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For all my Skateboarders!!… This month the U.S. Postal Service is set to launch its latest collection of artistic stamps celebrating the “Art of the Skateboard.” The image below features the work of four skaters-turned-artists on photographs of skateboards, curated by art director Antonio Alcalá. Crystal Worl (Alaska)-Tlingit/Athabascan heritage with a blue-indigo salmon graphic; William James Taylor Junior (Virginia) concocted a red-and-orange abstract design; Di’Orr Greenwood (Arizona) celebrated her Navajo roots with a bright palette depicting eagle feathers, as well as the sun’s rising and setting tones; and lastly, Federico “MasPaz” Frum (Columbia-born/Washington, D.C.) created a stylistic jaguar. The collection will be available for purchase beginning March 24, 2023.

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Keeping with the theme of Women’s History Month, Marvel just dropped a surprise new TV series on Disney+ MPower about the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s roster of female heroes. The four-part docuseries is now streaming in its entirety on the service. Executive produced by Zoë Saldaña, “the show blends footage from MCU movies and shows with new animation and interviews with Marvel stars to explore some of the franchise’s top stars and their long and complex history.”

The four episodes of MPower are “The Women of Black Panther” (which focuses on Danai Gurira’s Okoye, Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, Florence Kasumba’s Ayo, and Letitia Wright’s Shuri), “Captain Marvel” (which also features Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau from the upcoming The Marvels movie), “Scarlet Witch” (which also includes Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness and even Kat Dennings’ Darcy Lewis) and “Gamora” of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise (whose story also obviously dovetails with her sister, Nebula, played by Karen Gillan). See the trailer below:

All four episodes of MPower are streaming now on Disney+.

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Painter Spotlight!! Providing a voice for Black maternal mortality and morbidity through art…Chicago-based artist/painter Ashley January shows her vision and past experiences of the above in her solo exhibit, “Human I Mother I Black”! See some of her work below:

(Photo credit Ashley January, left-COVID Shelter in Place With Baby, 2020; top right-Quinn and Ashley Study #2, 2020; top bottom-Crystal and Dylan Study, 2020)

You can also follow her artistic journey here!

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

It’s getting hot in here!! The trailers are dropping like hotcakes!! Don’t believe me, check them out below:

Watcher (Streaming on Hulu March 10th)

The Crossover (Streaming on Disney+ April 5th)

Praise This (Streaming on Peacock April 7th)

Ghosted (Streaming on Apple TV+ April 21st)

Citadel (Streaming on Prime Video April 28th)

Peter Pan & Wendy (Streaming on Disney+ April 28th)

I’m a Virgo (Streaming on Prime Video Summer 2023)

The Blackening (In theaters June 16th)

Posted in On The Radar

Save The Date!! March 17th…”Pass My Crown: The Woman’s Voice in Hip Hop-Past, Present & Future!!” Event

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

So to jump start Women’s History Month, I wanted to share an event that I will be participating in on March 17th!! Pass My Crown: The Woman’s Voice in Hip Hop-Past, Present & Future!!

This event will be an open discussion/dialogue about women in Hip Hop currently as well as historically. A few of the topics that will be explored include: the subject matter of lyrics, dress, feminism/womanism, culture appropriation (the Black woman aesthetic), the overt and covert misogyny, activism, what’s next for women in Hip Hop, and how a multitude of women’s voices need to be heard.  

It’s gonna be a HOT one!! Check out the details below:

March 17th, 2023 (Doors Open at 6:15 pm)

Virginia Commonwealth University- Academic Commons 1107

1000 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23284

If you are in the Richmond area you do not want to miss this event!!

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-February 2023

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Just like that I got another list of literary goodies waiting for you to add to you bookshelves. As always I have a nice mix for you, everything ranging from fantasy fiction to LGBTQ stories to illustrated history, and much more! And as you peruse the list make sure you also support your local bookstores!

Check out February’s List below:

  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People ~Kekla Magoon
  • Stone and Steel ~Eboni Dunbar
  • Rootless ~Krystle Zara Appiah
  • The Trayvon Generation ~Elizabeth Alexander
  • Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and Unseen ~George McCalman
  • Decent People ~De’Shawn Charles Winslow
  • A Ruin of Shadows ~L.D. Lewis
  • Trouble the Saints ~Alaya Dawn Johnson

And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s list and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~Harriet Tubman