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!!
As summer comes to a close and fall approaches, grab a book or two to make the transition a smooth one. So as the month closes, see August’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:
Blood in the Water ~Tiffany D. Jackson
This Motherless Land ~Nikki May
Colored Television ~Danzy Senna
Red Clay ~Charles B. Fancher
Weird and Wonderful You ~Zaila Avant-garde
The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic ~Lindsey Stewart
Sky Full of Elephants ~Cebo Campbell
The Strangers: Five Extraordinary Black Men and the Worlds That Made Them ~Ekow Eshun
When The Harvest Comes ~Denne Michelle Norris
Great Black Hope ~Rob Franklin
Sunstruck ~William Rayfet Hunter
Flirting Lessons ~Jasmine Guillory
As always, don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!
And remember, you can always go back and check out previous lists in the “Resource” section of the website!
The hardest-working man in showbiz, Samuel L. Jackson, is at it again with a spinoff of the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King,” titled “NOLA King,” which has officially been greenlit.
“‘NOLA King’ follows Russell Lee Washington Jr. (Jackson) who, after befriending Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) during a ten-year stint in federal prison, is sent to Tulsa by New York’s Renzetti crime family to take Dwight out once and for all. Inspired by what Dwight created in Tulsa and impressed with the possibilities of second chances, Washington returns to New Orleans, the home he abandoned forty-years ago, to rekindle his relationship with his family, friends, and to take control of the city he left behind. In so doing, he incurs the wrath of his former employers in New York, and makes himself vulnerable to old NOLA foes, both criminal and cop.”
Season 3 of “Tulsa King” is slated to premiere in September on Paramount+, with “NOLA King” reportedly planning to begin shooting in early 2026.
On the mural, you can see a quote from one of Baker’s songs written in a bold Gothic font in French: “I have two loves: my country and Paris.” According to FKDL, the mural of Baker, is meant to symbolize freedom and resistance, and is among several painted in recent days in the neighborhood and organized by the association Paris Colors Ourq. He further notes, “Josephine Baker has always been, for me, a somewhat iconic figure of that era. Both wild and free-spirited, but also deeply connected to music, musicals, and dance…She was an extraordinary character, an incredible woman.”
Look out world…History has been made!! Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo is now a part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame legacy as the “First Black African Musician.” This recognition celebrates her four-decade career, marked by her unique blend of West African music with funk, jazz, and R&B, and her global advocacy work. The 64-year-old from Benin was hailed as Africa’s “premier diva” during a press conference for the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Aww, shucks, one of my favorite television series is coming back!!! The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is returning for a third season with more laughs, guests, and meaningful storytelling. Evolving in multiple ways, this new season, Penny Proud and her friends are navigating the middle school chaos, but to push the envelope further, they’re going global. The international adventures and sharp social commentary will feature guest appearances from stars such as Janelle James, Sanaa Lathan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Chance the Rapper. In addition, returning cast members include Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, JoMarie Payton, Cedric the Entertainer, and Karen Malina White. We will also see how music plays a significant role this season, with 10 new original songs composed by Grammy winner Roccstar and longtime series composer Kurt Farquhar.
Oh, and as a bonus, before it even premieres, it has already been renewed for a fourth season. I like the sound of that kind of news!! Season 3 of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder premieres Tuesday, August 6th, on Disney+.
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!!
It’s amazing how you can live in one place, go to another, and it feels like a mirror image…with just more people. In comparison to Beijing, Shanghai is definitely much more metropolitan. I was glad to see both places, because both offer something very unique and different.
Endless stores and shopping
This part of town (Nanjing Road) literally reminds me of a playful New York Times Square!! #Shanghai#DrGsChinaTakeover
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.
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).
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 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.
Black Future Feminist 