Tag: Black History 365

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Black Joy, Celebration, Conversations with Beloved & Kindred, Holiday Celebration!!, Resources

Juneteenth 2024: A Time for Celebration and Reflection!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

What does it mean to be free?

Another year to celebrate and reflect on a moment in history! Juneteenth is about freedom! On this day 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! And over a half-century later in 2021, this day was officially named a federal holiday.

I’m still amazed and proud that I am here to see the holiday come to fruition. To think that freedom was delayed (especially for two years, any amount for that matter) is truly an injustice. I cannot even begin to imagine…BUT the dream was delayed not diminished. While the holiday is not perfect (there is room for growth), the history of Juneteenth will always be around, which is important! Freedom did come!

As an African American Studies professor, I am always talking about the experiences of Black folks in and out of the diaspora, particularly in popular culture. And when thinking about those experiences I cannot help but consider the past. As a people, we have encountered daily trauma, joy, pain, motivation, and so much more. These expressions are projected in many ways, many speaking to the ultimate goal…simply being free!! This freedom is shown through our music, food, tv shows, films, language, and so much more. In our own unique way, we have been able to unapologetically give ourselves permission to be empowered and live free in spite of what might be happening in the world.

In the spirit of celebrating being free and living in one’s purpose, I have gathered a few options of some good books to read, a few movies to watch, and some podcasts to add to your morning commute that speak to being FREE! Check them out below:

Books

  • On Juneteenth ~Annette Gordon-Reed
  • We Are Each Other’s Harvest Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy ~Natalie Baszile
  • Four Hundred Souls ~Edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain
  • Magic Enuff ~Tara M. Stringfellow
  • Shoutin’ in the Fire ~Danté Stewart
  • Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People ~Tiya Miles
  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness ~Austin Channing Brown

Movies/Film & TV Series

  • Miss Juneteenth (2020)
  • Beyond the Canvas-Art: Black Women Lead (2023)
  • Pose (2018-2021)
  • Mending Walls: The Documentary (2022)
  • The Learning Tree (1969)
  • High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)

Podcasts

TV Specials

  • Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom and Legacy (CNN) [Airing June 19 at 10pm ET/PT]: The third annual special will feature musical performances and conversations with John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and Smokey Robinson discussing freedom, progress and recognizing the people that paved the way. 
  • Additional documentaries, films, and television shows (provided by VCU News)

Now we cannot leave without offering some reflections on popular food and drinks that many folks consume during this celebration. During Juneteenth celebrations it is customary to partake in a feast, but particularly red foods take center stage. Red symbolizes the resilience from bondage. As noted by Chef Chris Scott who spearheaded the first James Beard Foundation’s Juneteenth celebration, “the red symbolizes the blood that was shed by Black Africans and Black Americans during slave capture, slave travel, and slave trade here in the state and in the Caribbean.” Some of the common foods found on a Juneteenth menu include:

  • Strawberries (especially strawberry soda pop)
  • Sorrel
  • Watermelon
  • BBQ
  • Red beans and rice
  • Red Velvet Cake
  • Deviled eggs

Remember these are just the basics, it is up to you what you want to include, you can even make your own creations or remix a recipe. Just make sure it’s with family and friends as you celebrate and reflect on the notion of freedom!!

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

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 start you off with something to ‘perk’ you up…Pun intended (lol)….For all my coffee drinkers, especially Café Bustelo fans, the brand is launching 3 new ‘Espresso-Styled’ Iced Coffee drinks. This is the first in their 96-year history!! The new Iced Coffee collection includes three different flavor options: Unsweetened, Sweetened, and Vanilla. Great thing about these new iced coffees is that they are designed to be consumed straight out of the fridge, just open and pour into a glass. Now the Sweetened and Unsweetened versions of the iced coffee will be available at several retailers starting with Kroger and Walmart, and the Vanilla, called “Vainilla,” is a Target exclusive. So stay tuned, all three should start popping up in the refrigerator aisle very soon.

In television news, leading up to the Season 4 premiere of the Emmy-nominated series The Boys, creator Eric Kripke announced that the Amazon Prime Video show will close out in Season 5. Kripke explained his decision to end the run on its fifth season in a conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, “From the very beginning, I wanted to wrap it out around Season 5…And then I would say plans really solidified that we were going to actually do it years ago. I think we were probably in the middle of making season three, so it could have been three or four years ago that we always knew.”


Prime Video will drop the first three episodes of The Boys Season 4 on Thursday, June 13. 

There’s a NEW MAYOR in town, on June 3rd, Lilian Seenoi-Barr made history becoming the first Black Mayor of Northern Ireland (Derry City and Strabane.) Truly a historic moment for the country of Ireland, as Ms. Seenoi-Barr came to the country 14 years ago as a Kenyan refugee. Growing up in a Maasai village she would grow up in “a home filled with love, unity, hard work and commitment to justice and freedom” – values she plans to carry forward into her service. This is also not her first time making history. Ms. Seenoi-Bar also broke barriers when she became the first Black woman to become an elected member of the “public office in Northern Ireland” as a councilor. Seeing news like this gives me hope that there is still for progressive change!! During her tenure as Mayor Ms. Seenoi-Barr seeks to to eradicate “poverty, attract investment and support young people to achieve their full potential, create jobs and advocate for quality affordable housing.”

Looking for something to do Labor Day weekend, why not check out Nas With the Las Vegas Philharmonic! In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of his debut album “Illmatic,” hip hop legend Nas is doing three performances (August 29-September 1) at the Encore Theater (Las Vegas). In a statement from Nas he notes, “I am excited to partner with the Las Vegas Philharmonic to bring this first-of-its-kind performance to Encore Theater and to showcase my music to my fans in Las Vegas in a whole new way.” Tickets have gone on sale and can be purchased here.

Talk about reclaiming space, this next feature spotlights two Black Hotel owners reclaiming a “gentrified space” in the Venice Beach area. Co-Founders Kamau Coleman and Michael Clinton have established a new boutique hotel, The Redline Venice (perfect name), as a way to provide a beautiful space and to tell the stories of Black and Brown folks who played a role in the Venice Beach area as a haven for artists, musicians, and creatives. The naming of the hotel is a direct and deliberate nod to the practice of redlining. As a boutique hotel it consists of four suites (studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom) and an amazing rooftop that can be used to rest, relax, and build networks! What a great way to ensure that the history of Black folks who made a innovative mark to the area get their just due and for an opportunity to build long-term economic wealth and power.

“The Redline isn’t just a place to stay ─ it’s an opportunity to satisfy your craving for cultural discovery. Whether you’re traveling alone or with friends and family, we’re your home to enjoy the best of what Venice Beach has to offer.”

Lastly, as an HBCU grad, I am super siked about this news right here and the fact that Cali is where it’s happening is an extra bonus!! Beginning in the Fall 2024 school year, California will get its first HBCU!! Through a landmark initiative and collaboration between Huston-Tillotson University (HTU), the National College Resources Foundation (NCRF), the San Diego County Office of Education, and the University of La Verne there will be two satellite campus housed in San Diego and Los Angeles County. This is HUGE as we can see the expansion of HBCUs moving towards the West Coast!!

And to close us out we got a triple header for this week’s Tiny Desk Concert-Black Music Month Feature, a nice mix of soul, hip hop, and jazz!! I’m so loving this, check them out below:

Chaka Khan

Tierra Whack

Lakecia Benjamin

Posted in Black Joy, Celebration, Feature Spotlight, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Weekly Hot Topics

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

New Month and New Hot Topics!!

We are jumping right out the gate with this one!! A new documentary from Shonda Rhimes/Shondaland and Netflix tells the story of how the first Black Barbie doll came to be in 1980. Directed by Lagueria Davis and produced by Shondaland’s Shonda Rhimes, Black Barbie “shows the impact of three Black staffers at Mattel on the doll’s debut, and how they influenced generations of young Black girls and the Barbie brand as a whole.” 

Want to get some fashion inspiration? Or find out just how top stylist Law Roach has created a fashion legacy… Well stylist to the stars Law Roach is dropping his first book, How To Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence. It’s available for pre-order on Banks Square Books and Amazon and will hit shelves, on September 24, 2024.

A Black Feminist icon has been immortalized with a statue in the very spot where she gave an empowering speech. On May 29th the city of Akron and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund unveiled a plaza and statue dedicated to abolitionist Sojourner Truth. In 1851 Sojourner Truth gave the seminal speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” to a crowd gathered at the Universalist Old Stone Church in Akron for the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention. This statue and plaza represent a space to tell one of America’s inspiring story of faith, truth, justice, and freedom!

In more inspiring news, the Kenyan government has partnered with several HBCUs to help boost STEM Education across the waters. Representatives from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, and executives from higher education and business circles signed a framework agreement pact to establish an exchange between Kenyan universities and HBCUs. With many STEM programs on the rise here in the U.S., Kenya has established itself as the “Silicon Savannah of East Africa”and according to Kenyan president  Dr. William Samoei Ruto, it has also “been a global player in shaping the growth of the technology industry.”

This next feature is all about food and nourishment! Whether you are going for the first time or revisiting an oldie but goodie food spot….Check out these Black-owned restaurants that can be found all across the U.S.:

As an extra bonus, with June being Black Music Month each week I will bring you the latest Tiny Desk concerts featuring some of the hottest Black musical artists!! This year’s Black Music Month-Tiny Desk Concert series features Black women artists all across the spectrum from “veterans who’ve paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths.”

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

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

It’s a new month with a whole new set of trailers! Summer is upon us folks and the prospects are looking really good!! We got a nice mix of final seasons, period dramas, anti-heroes, some history lessons, action, and even a little child’s play!! Check out this week’s trailer below:

Origin (Streaming on Hulu-June 10th)

Season 3- Bridgerton, Part 2 (Streaming on Netflix-June 13th)

WondLa (Streaming on Apple TV+ – June 28th)

Season 4- The Umbrella Academy (Streaming on Netflix-August 8th)

Harold and the Purple Crayon (In theaters August 2024)

Wolfs (In theaters September 20th)

https://youtu.be/Tgg448od3go?si=HlZqawgKZ2AQP5pi

Venom: The Last Dance (In theaters October 2024)

Posted in Celebration, Holiday Celebration!!

We are halfway through 2024…Welcome June!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Can you believe it, we are halfway through the year!! Summer is right around the corner!!

As the month begins, check out what you can celebrate:

  • Black Music Month
  • LGBTQ Pride Month
  • National Cheese Day (June 4th)
  • National Ice Tea Day (June 10th)
  • National Loving Day (June 12th)
  • Father’s Day (June 16th)
  • Juneteenth (June 19th)
  • Summer Solstice (June 20th)

These are just a few holiday/observances to celebrate during the month of June!

And to kick off the and get you in the mood check out these smooth jazz tunes!

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

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-May 2024

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

TGIF!! I know you thought, did Dr. G forget about us? Not at all, closing out the month with a few literary gems to get you prepared for the summer. And I can literally vouch for each of the books…you say how? Well, they are all a part of my personal library!! Matter of fact a few of them are even on my summer reading list. So grab your wallets and add some books to your carts!! And as always, Don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!

Check out May’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:

  • A Thousand Words on Race and Hope: Light For the World To See ~Kwame Alexander
  • Nigeria Jones ~ Ibi Zoboi
  • Mr. Jimmy from Around the Way ~Jeffrey Blount
  • Blackness is Burning: Civil Rights, Popular Culture, and the Problem of Recognition ~TreaAndrea M. Russworm
  • Feenin: R&B Music and the Materiality of BlackFem Voices and Technology ~Alexander G. Weheliye
  • Souls of Black Folk: A Graphic Interpretation ~W.E.B. DuBois & Paul Peart-Smith
  • Life, I Swear: Intimate Stories from Black Women on Identity, Healing, and Self-Trust ~Chloe Dulce Louvouezo
  • Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair ~The KSU Museum & HIRMER

As an Extra Bonus…If need something to do for the summer and want to support your favorite author, check out these upcoming Book Festivals:

And as always, remember you can always go back and check out previous lists in the “Resource” section of the website!

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

Dr. G’s Weekly Hot Topics!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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]

Posted in Feature Spotlight, Monthly Book Recommendations, On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-April 2024

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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!!

Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com

Check out April’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:

  • Skin & Bones ~Renée Watson
  • Summer on Highland Beach ~Sunny Hostin
  • Little Rot ~Akwaeke Emezi
  • Sports Superheroes ~Stephen Curry
  • Great Expectations ~Vinson Cunningham
  • I Just Keep Talking: A Life in Essays ~Nell Irvin Painter
  • Come & Get It ~Kiley Reid
  • Allow Me To Introduce Myself ~Onyi Nwabineli
  • Anita De Monte Laughs Last ~Xochitl Gonzalez
  • One Of Us Knows ~Alyssa Cole

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

(l-r and 1940 cover edition, “Separate but equal” in practice a separate “Negro Area” at Lewis Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, and founder/creator Victor Hugo Green, Photo Credit: New York Public Library copy and National Park Service)

—

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!

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

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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)

Posted in New Trailer Alerts!!, On The Radar

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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)

https://youtu.be/wB6H9OiXyOI?si=vR65VLTirWpLe4wV

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)