August 16th, 1981…41 years ago today the Creator saw fit for me to come into this world. Leading up to this day has been one eventful year… let’s just say one for the books!! Bringing in 40 brought much joy, pain, new beginnings, but no regrets! The one thing I love about my birthday is that I get to reflect on what happened in the previous months, and what I can do in the months ahead.
So you know as I enter year 41, I always like to peel back and understand the significance of that number and everything that comes with it…The number 41 represents a symbol of hope and affirmation. This year I strive to maintain and increase my focus on physical, emotional, and financial security. Now I would be fooling myself if I did not say I was curious about what is in store for this new year. It’s amazing what can happen in a day, a week, a month, and even a year!
Now 41 also symbolizes creation and imagination…I got a few new projects on the rise, some projects in the process, and a few on the verge of completion.
41 also brings the essence of the following thoughts:
Expression of Personal Freedom
Curiosity
Pragmatism
Focus
Self-determination
Adventure
As always I am looking towards new possibilities that lead to great places. I’m ready, a little anxious, but alert for what is on the horizon!!
Cheers to this new year of blessings!! Another chapter to write!! Welcome 41!!
It’s my birthday week!! Instead of waiting till Tuesday to share this week’s alerts I wanted to start off the week with some newness!! Check out what is in store:
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Streaming August 18th on Disney+)
Nothing like a new television series to take you back to your childhood days!!
During last month’s San Diego Comic Con there were several major announcements made and trailers revealed!! Two in particular that stopped me in my tracks were of course the trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the trailer for the much anticipated animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur!! With Moon Girl (Lunella Lafayette) being deemed as one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe, this is prime content for little girls (especially little Black girls) who are interested in the STEM field. As a follower and reader of the comic (even wrote a chapter in my dissertation about her), I am truly hyped to see this hit the television screens!!
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur follows the adventures of 13-year-old Lunella (voiced by Diamond White) and her 10-ton T-rex, Devil Dinosaur (voiced by Fred Tatasciore). Additionally, the main cast includes Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi, Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend/manager, Casey, Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria, Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr., Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops, and executive producer Laurence Fishburne as The Beyonder,
Also announced at San Diego Comic Con, the legendary Raphael Saadiq will serve as the executive music producer for the show.
To get a little taste of the series and Lunella, Casey and Devil Dinosaur prepare for their mission in New York City’s Lower East Side, check out the teaser trailer below:
In addition to the lead roles, the series is is set to feature the following star power guests: Alison Brie, Andy Cohen, Daveed Diggs, Maya Hawke, Jennifer Hudson, Wilson Cruz, Method Man, Asia Kate Dillon, Cobi Smulders, Wesley Snipes, and more. Additionally the following actors will have recurring roles: Omid Abtahi, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Michael Cimino, Indya Moore and Craig Robinson.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is set to premiere on the Disney Channel and Disney+ in 2023!! Looking forward to this animated goodness!!
Two Icons …. Two Amazing People …. Two people who changed the game!! I will forever be inspired!! #NichelleNichols #BillRussell #StarTrek #Uhura #Celtics #TheGOAT #Activist #BlackExcellence #RestInParadise🙏🏾
As we close out another season of Conversations with Beloved & Kindred, we wanted to make sure you get a chance to view the latest episode, just in case you missed it!!
For our final feature in examining Blackness and horror we talked about the 2016 film The Girl With All The Gifts!! With this film, we get an opportunity to discuss what it means when you really listen to what children have to say and power that they possess literally and figuratively!
Once again do not just take my word for it check out our commentary and see for yourself!
Black Women are Supreme…As in today June 30, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson has been sworn in as our first Black woman on the Supreme Court!!
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., administers the Constitutional Oath to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the West Conference Room, Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2022. Dr. Patrick Jackson holds the Bible. Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Cheers to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson!! Now that has a nice sound to it!!
Official photograph of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson taken by Supreme Court Photographer Fred Schilling, 2022.
As noted in her own words, “I have dedicated my career to public service because I love this country and our Constitution and the rights that make us free!”
Happy Summer!! As we prepare to enter into sweltering heats, take vacations on the beach, spend time with loved ones and friends, let me make sure I get you ready for some summer reading! Summer is always an exciting time for me, and a time to take advantage of some leisure reading!
On last month, I had the opportunity to present a paper on “#BlackGamersMatter: Gaming and the Black Imaginary” at the Beyond the Page-“Present Encounters: Digital Humanities Meet Afrofuturism” at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA).
Dr. Gipson presenting at the Present Encounters: Digital Humanities Meet Afrofuturism (Temple University)
And if you are interested in checking out the full symposium see the following videos below:
Part 1: Welcome remarks by Joseph P. Lucia, dean of Temple University Libraries; Keynote Address by Dr. Reynaldo Anderson, associate professor of Africology and African American Studies: “Afrofuturism: The Second Race for Theory,” See here
Part 2: Discussion with curator, art director, illustrator Eric Battle, and illustrators Damali Beatty and Nilé Livingston for the Black Lives Always Mattered!: Hidden African American Philadelphia of the Twentieth Century original graphic novel, See here
Part 3: Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio project presentations in the Scholars Studio Innovation Lab, See here
Part 4: “Virtual Blockson” presentation with Jasmine Lelis Clark, See here
It’s that time of year where I always like to reflect on another academic year in the books! This time around I wanted to share my gratitude and appreciation in the form of a letter to my students.
Dear Scholars,
You have done it again. You have figured out a way to pull at my heartstrings and fill me with emotion. Let me first start out by saying I am so proud of the work that you have done and will continue to do. Many of you started out with me when I arrived to VCU in the Summer of 2020, several of you became repeat student in my classes, and to see you walk across the stage with the biggest smiles is truly a proud moment.
Spring 2022 VCU AFAM Graduates (Pictured with Top l-r Kristina Barnes and Akira Goden; Bottom l-r Safia Abdulahi and Sergine Mombrun)
This semester much like the previous ones was definitely a roller coaster ride, it just has a new name! I enjoyed coming to both classes with a new mindset and leaving with new energy. For Spring 2022, I got the opportunity to teach a special topics course, AFAM 491: Say Her Name-Humanizing the Black Female Voice in Television. From the onset, I was excited about teaching this course because we would be discussing three televisions shows that were changing the game (HBO Max’sA Black Lady Sketch Show, I May Destroy You, and STARZ’sP-Valley). The format of the course would be different and outside of my normal lecture-discussion style. For this class we would be doing regular deep dives (almost each class period). The excitement that each of you brought was mind-blowing, considering many had never watched the shows or even heard of them. And like most new classes you are never sure how it will play out, but this was definitely a win. The diverse perspectives that each of you brought to the discussions, along with implementing your critical thinking skills really made me wish we could add more time to each class. There was never a day when we did not run over, and in this case that was not a bad thing. Who knew that critical television analysis could be so fun and engaging?!! And then when we had the surprise guest (Cherokee Hall-‘Extra Extra’) from P-Valley come and talk with us you all really lit up! Thank you for doing the work and making it easy for me to come to campus and show-up 110%!!
I also got to teach one of my tried and true favorite courses, AFAM 111: Introduction to Africana Studies. Now this class had a different format as well, it was a one-day a week meeting for 2 hours and 40 mins. And let me tell you, I had no idea where I would even begin with this teaching in this format, but we made it work. Lecture for the first part and a film screening in the latter half. While this posed a challenge, your feedback about the class set-up was much appreciated and well received. Change can be difficult, with solid teamwork the possibilities were endless. With many of the students in this class were freshman and sophomores, my hope is that you got at least a little something that might add, change, reframe, and/or expand your thinking and engagement with the world going forward. Thank you for helping me to be more inclusive, push my creative lens, and nurture my heart, mind and soul.
Now for some of you the next step is graduate school in either a new city or even state. Take all the skills you have gained and build from them, create new memories, show the world whose next up! And others are going straight into the job market, putting that talent into action immediately. As the historian Keisha Blain said, in reference to the Black Nationalist Women fighting for global freedom, “set the world on fire.” “Set the world on fire” with innovative methods of change, “Set the world on fire” with your leadership, “Set the world on fire” with your unapologetic attitude, and “Set the world on fire” with your joy and determination. You got this!!
When people tell me, “I can see the passion that you have and the deep care for your students,” I get all emotional again because that statement is soooo true! I love what I do and would not change it for the world!
While I may not be your professor anymore, just know that I am always here to support in any way that I can. I’m just an email or call away!
Another semester in the books…Another set of grades submitted…Let the summer begin!!
Black Future Feminist 