We are halfway through July, and the television and film train is full steam ahead! Summer is upon us and there is much to dive into!! Check out this week’s new trailers below:
Untamed (Streaming on Netflix July 17th)
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (Streaming on HBO Max July 18th and 25th)
Chief of War (Streaming on Apple TV+ August 1st)
Weapons (In theaters August 8th)
Season 2-Gen V (Streaming on Prime Video September 17th)
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (In theaters November 14th)
Another day, another dollar…well in this case another set of trailers!! Highlighting Black and Brown folks this week! Everything from sports to making herstory in the Mexican police ranks! Check out this week’s trailers below:
Sprint: The World’s Fastest Humans (Streaming July 2nd on Netflix)
Simone Biles Rising (Streaming July 17th on Netflix)
Women in Blue (Streaming July 31st on Apple TV+)
Season 3-Bel-Air (Streaming August 15th on Peacock)
Blink Twice (In theaters August 23rd)
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Streaming September 5th on Peacock)
The Front Room (In theaters September 6th)
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]
Kicking off the month with some television and film goodies!! Check out this week’s new trailers below:
Little Wing (Streaming on Paramount + March 13th)
Anatomy of a Fall (Streaming on Hulu March 22nd)
Steve! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces (Streaming on Apple TV+ March 29th)
Ripley (Streaming on Netflix April 4th)
Sugar (Streaming on Apple TV+ April 5th)
Fallout (Streaming on Prime Video April 11th)
Sing Sing (In theaters July 2024)
In celebration of Dr. King’s Birthday, I’m sharing some of my favorite speeches from him as well as a few films, documentaries, and television series that feature his life and legacy. Some of these are hidden gems, along with a few speeches and films that I have learned about through my time as a student and now professor. Check them out below:
Dr. G’s Fave Speeches from Dr. King:
Films, Documentaries, and Television Series [*Premium Subscription]
As an extra bonus, you can also check out this 360 Look at the National Civil Rights Museum which features Dr. King’s legacy.
“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.”
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It’s the last day of October but that does not mean the new trailers stop!! What better way to close the month than to showcase some HOT new trailers!! Check them out below:
Manodrome (In theaters November 10th)
The Killer (Streaming on Netflix November 10th)
Dashing Through The Snow (Streaming on Disney+ November 17th)
Stamped From the Beginning (Streaming on Netflix November 20th)
Season 5-Fargo (Streaming on FX November 21st)
Good Burger 2 (Streaming on Paramount + November 22)
Season 3-Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Streaming on STARZ December 1st)
We have a nice line-up of film and television for you to check out!! The weather is changing, a little more crisp in the air, so why not bundle up and watch something new!! Check out this week’s new trailers, see below:
Season 2-Invincible (Streaming on Prime Video November 3rd)
The Curse (Streaming on Showtime/Paramount+ November 10th)
Squid Game: The Challenge (Streaming on Netflix November 22nd)
Faraway Downs (Streaming on Hulu November 26th)
Candy Cane Lane (Streaming on Prime Video December 1st)
American Fiction (In theaters December 2023)
Occupied City (Coming Soon to Apple TV+)
The last set of trailers for September!! Let’s see what October brings us!! You ready? I’m ready!! Check out this week’s trailers below:
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Streaming October 6th on Showtime)
Season 3-Upload (Streaming October 20th on Prime Video)
Milli Vanilli (Streaming October 26th on Paramount +)
Quiz Lady (Streaming November 3rd on Hulu)
Squid Game: The Challenge (Streaming November 22 on Netflix)
Percy Jackson and The Olympians (Streaming December 20th on Disney Plus)
The Book of Clarence (In theaters 2024)
Welcome back to another Wednesday edition of #JoyfulBlackSpaces with BFF guest blogger, Lauren N. Jackson.
What are Black spaces? As a reminder, Black spaces are intentional spaces and environments designed to uplift and empower the Black community. These spaces bring JOY because they allow Blacks to rid themselves of the daily microaggressions, racism, and prejudices often experienced in society, and allow them to fully embrace their Blackness; their uniqueness, dialect, identity, and culture. Black spaces include spaces like higher education institutions, restaurants, churches, museums, and the like.
Today’s #BlackJoy moment we will focus on “The Black Church.”
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me.” The sweet sounds of the spiritual song, Amazing Grace, and other hymns are the staple of most Black churches in America. These hymns hold deep meaning and significance within the context of the Black church. They are not merely songs, but powerful expressions of faith, resilience, and hope. These hymns have been passed down through generations, carrying the collective experiences, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans.
Hymns are just one aspect that shapes what the Black church is today. A closer look at history reveals that Black churches were birthed during times of oppression and adversity, and provided a sanctuary for African Americans to gather, worship, and find solace. And for at least two hours on Sunday mornings, Blacks can be free and liberated from societal ills. And today, the same rings true. “The Black Church” has been a place where individuals can express their spirituality freely, connect with a higher power, and find comfort in a community that understands their struggles; all while wearing their “Sunday Best” attire. Predominantly Black churches continue to progressively lead the charge for several causes: spirituality, activism, and leadership.
Weekly powerful sermons by the pastor, moving songs of praise and worship by the choir, and soul-moving prayers by church leaders help to shape and deepen the spiritual growth and development of parishioners. Outside of the four walls of the church, many Black churches have been instrumental in advocating for social justice and working together to address societal issues that impact Black communities: healthcare, poverty, and education; to name a few. The Black church embodies JOY because it’s a space that offers strength, hope, belonging, resilience, and an opportunity to engage in vibrant worship, celebration, and praise!
I would like to shout out two churches that have played an integral role in my spiritual growth and development: Faith Temple Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Wilmington, NC (my home church) and Cedar Street Baptist Church of God in Richmond, VA (my local church). Thank you to Pastor Lorenzo Edge and Dr. Anthony Michael Chandler, Sr. for your spirit-filled sermons, service to the church and community, and for creating opportunities for me to develop as a leader within and outside the church!
Want to learn more about the Black church? Check out these phenomenal documentaries and articles that highlight the historical foundations of the Black church and their relevance today:
You can also check out some of these top Gospel hits in the playlists below!
“Nothing is more powerful than the Black church experience. A good choir and a good sermon in the black church, it’s pretty hard not to be moved and be transported.” ~Barack Obama
See you all tomorrow!!
We are flying through these days and weeks, can you believe we are almost halfway through June and quickly approaching the official start date of Summer?! Well to get you ready, I got a few new film and television trailers to get you hyped for the week and the upcoming summer!
Check them out below:
Stan Lee (Streaming on Disney+ June 16th)
Season 3-Warrior (Streaming on Max June 29th)
The Outlaws (Streaming on Netflix July 7th)
Season 2-The Afterparty (Streaming on Apple TV+ July 12th)
Bird Box Barcelona (Streaming on Netflix July 14th)
Meg 2: The Trench (In theaters August 4th)
EXPEND4BLES (In theaters September 22nd)
Black Future Feminist 