Tag: #RepresentationMatters

Posted in Celebration, Dr. G's Pop Culture Corner (PCC), Dr. G's Weekly Hot Topics, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Pop Culture Corner

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

For all my travel buddies and those imagining their next adventure, check out Tracee Ellis Ross in her new Roku Channel series Solo Traveling.

In the first three episodes, Ross takes us to Morocco, Mexico, and Spain, and sightseeing is not all we see. She’s giving viewers a masterclass in rituals, reflection, and, yes, what to do when a TSA agent finds your hidden vibrator in your luggage. So don’t wait, check it out now!!

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.

“Mural Mural on the wall, whose the fairest of them all”…Well, that would be the iconic Josephine Baker, who was just recently memorialized on a Paris wall. The unveiling of the mural took place on July 19th as part of the street art festival, “Paris Colors Ourq.” The mural comes from urban artist Franck Duval, known as FKDL, who tells the Associated Press’ Nicolas Garriga that his work focuses on “bringing women back into the urban landscape.”

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+.

Posted in Dr. G's Pop Culture Corner

Dr. G’s Pop Culture Corner (PCC)

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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.

Photo by Igor Sanches on Pexels.com

Check this week’s news below:

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).

According to Warner Bros., this is the first time a streaming service has interpreted a film into BASL. According to Max, the release of Sinners in BASL marks “a major step forward in accessibility, representation and visibility in streaming. Interpreted by Nakia Smith, she is “an influential voice in the Black Deaf community, who delivers a powerful interpretation with cultural depth and linguistic richness that aligns with the film’s themes and historical timeline.”

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 products include a Styling Cream and a Strong Hold Gel, which can be used to shape a bouffant afro, as well as the Curl Gel and Leave-In Conditioner to define coils. Lastly, there is the Curl Mousse for definition and shine.

It looks like we may see DC’s first Black Female Superhero, Nubia, on a television or film screen near you in the near future. While waiting on news about Batman in The Brave and the Bold and the DCU’s plans for Wonder Woman, an interviewer (Pay or Wait) slyly asked famed director James Gunn about the addition of two other characters, Nubia and Static Shock. As one of DC’s most significant but underused characters (sometimes connected to Wonder Woman), Gunn explains “I am very aware of Nubia. And yes, we are very much talking about that, and I want to have all sorts of people represented in the DCU and, yeah, you might be very happy in the not too distant future.”  Although a release date has not been set, I look forward to seeing what happens with the character on the big screen.

DC Comics Nubia & the Amazons #1 (October 2021), art by Alitha Martinez & Laura Martin

In more comic news, from Marvel Animation, viewers get a sneak peek into another part of Wakanda in the 4-part series, Eyes of Wakanda.

Eyes of Wakanda is a “new action-adventure series that  follows the adventures of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history. In this globe-trotting adventure, the heroes must carry-out dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts from the enemies of Wakanda. They are the Hatut Zaraze and this is their story.”

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.

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

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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)

https://youtu.be/6SCn6UDXw_I?si=DxO8KWG7hGUPiFGJ

Good Burger 2 (Streaming on Paramount + November 22)

Season 3-Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Streaming on STARZ December 1st)

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Dr. G's Travels, Feature Spotlight, On The Radar

#TanzaniaJourneyTravels-Day 8: Spice Town, Stone Town, and Freedom!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Wow!! What can I say about today!! Today’s journey was all about spices, the creation of Stone Town, and the history of Zanizbar from the perspective of enslavement. It was a full day, so much so that I was literally worn out at the end of the day!

So let’s begin at the Spice Farm…

A handmade bracelet made of banana and coconut leaves

Words do no justice, the pictures above speak a thousand words!!

I was in second heaven while walking through this farm. Sooooo much goodness in its natural element! I think I take for granted what one can do with spices, there is a wealth of ways to make use of these herbs, roots, and spice. They hold sooooo much value everything from ice cream, masala, medication, a baby wash to ward off spirits from when babies are first born, and in some cases pillow stuffing (Karpak very similar to cotton) and furniture.

More specifically, I would learn that cardamom can be used to help babies go to sleep or as they say “lazy their baby’ and be a mouthwash, or that a small amount of nutmeg can be used as a spice but a large amount is used as a drug, or even that before Black pepper takes on a black color it goes through three other color phases (green, red, white), and lastly the Anatodye is a flower that can be used for henna and to make lipstick. Simply amazing!!!

Following the Spice Farm we would would drive through Zanzibar City or central city to get to Stone Town. Stone Town is considered the old part and oldest city of Zanzibar. It would get its name based on the majority of the buildings in the city being made from limestone and dead coral.

Approximately 36 km from mainland Tanzania, Stone Town was known as the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate and was a flourishing city that was the center of the spice trade and the slave trade in the 19th century. While not many residents live in Stone Town it still maintains its importance to Zanzibar, particularly for tourism. There is much movement taking place in the city, whether it is music and arts or bustling businesses and markets (see below).

The markets are open every day typically from 6 am to 7 pm. Just seeing all of the fresh seafood, spices, fruits, vegetables….oh my!! The markets were always busy, especially considering that when people came they were typically buying for the day. This makes sense especially if you are not able to preserve or have regular refrigeration.

Part of our time in Stone Town included touring the East African Slave Trade Exhibit, which was another eye-opening experience. While I knew that slavery took place all over the world, I was not as informed about the Arab and Persian involvement particularly in Zanzibar. Stone Town in particular would house one of the largest slave market ports.

It still amazes me how much is being uncovered globally as it relates to slavery. Every country has their own story…

A memorial for the enslaved and the Cathedral Church of Christ that would replace a former slave market.

I will say this while many folks want to write out or even white out slavery learning about the operations of enslavement outside of the US is mind blowing. People are still in denial or minimize this multi-year global atrocity. While slavery was abolished in Zanzibar beginning in the late 1890s, freedom was still a complicated process for those who had been enslaved. There were many obstacles faced, including the fact that most likely you were separated from your family and children, any land that may have been acquired was forfeited, and there was also the risk of being declared a vagrant, imprisoned, or sent to hard manual labor. In addition, to this it was also highly unlikely that the enslaved on the plantations were illiterate, which meant many probably did not even realize they were even free.

So much stolen and never recovered fully…..

Taking a shift left….

Before COVID-19 there were over 500,000 tourists who visited Stone Town, since COVID-19 that number has increased to 700,000. Much like many places, tourism is the backbone of the Stone Town, and Zanzibar in general, economy. Some other interesting things to note is the main tourists who come to Zanzibar include French, German, British and Asian residents with very few African American. But according to our guide KP this is slowly increasing.

In finishing out our excursion for the day one thing that I also noticed not just on the Tanzania mainland but definitely in Zanzibar was the doors. These were not just any type of door, but intricately detailed, made of strong wood, and could identify wealth. The larger and more detailed the door, the richer and more significant the person. While many of the details on some of the doors serve as decoration, during the British and Arab invasions they served as weapons to keep the elephants from storming down the doors. Also, not only were their decorations, but the carvings in particular at the top were etched with various symbols that served as a way to ward off bad spirits.

Just admiring the details shows how much work goes into each door. The pride in the craftsmanship is very much evident!!

I have never seen doors like this before, and boy do I wish I could transport some back to the US. Talk about one of a kind!!

And just a little humor to close out the day’s excursion, the bootleg man still exists lol even in Africa…

The DVD Bootleg man still remains…

All in all, let me just say again how amazing this experience has been for me these past 8 days. So much has transpired beyond what I could even imagine. I cannot stress it enough the importance of traveling outside of your neighborhood, city, and state. There is truly a wealth of knowledge waiting for you to discover!

Tomorrow I will close out with some final reflections as I prepare to come back stateside!! As always I look forward to sharing!

See you then!!

~Dr. G

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Dr. G's Travels

#TanzaniaJourneyTravels- Day 5: A Visit with the Maasai

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

What a day!! There are many moments where you will watch something on tv or read in a book that make you say, “I wish I could be there” or “I wonder what it would be like to see a community in their natural element. Well today I was able make that happen when visiting a Maasai village. I have read about them, seen them portrayed in movies, featured in documentaries, but here was a moment to witness them in all their glory!

A brief history…The Maasai is a community of people that inhabit the northern, central and southern part of Kenya and northern part of Tanzania. They are known for their residence near many game parks/reserves of the African Great Lakes, their warrior style of fighting, and their distinctive customs and attire. While the last Census in 2019 of the Maasai population was reported as numbering 1,189,522 in Kenya this may be skewed as many of the Maasai view the census as government meddling and often either refuse to participate or actively provide false information. I can definitely respect this move and also count it fortunate that they even allowed us into their space. I will say they definitely encouraged us to take pictures and video and they even let us wear some of the garments during the visit.

Dr. G dressed in traditional Maasai attire with some of the Maasai women

The Maasai are very much a self-sustaining community that rely on cattle for wealth (although they are very familiar with the US Dollar) and the men and women each play an active role in maintaining its existence. Interesting enough the women I would say in many ways take on a great deal of the tasks whether it is teaching the kindergarten classes, bearing children, selling goods in the market and building the homes that they live in. The role of Black and African women is in many ways universal.

Some other interesting things to note include:

  • The Maasai people were against slavery and never condoned the trafficking of human beings, thus those outsiders looking for people to enslave avoided the Maasai
  • All of the Maasai’s needs for food are met by their cattle. Not only do they eat their meat, but drink their milk daily, and sometimes drink their blood. Goats and lamb are slaughtered for meat on special occasions and ceremonies.
  • A big part of their culture also includes music and dance. Upon entering the village we would participate in the welcome dance and jumping competition. I appreciated taking part in this as we were not just simply bystanders looking on (see the above video).

One other thing that would stand out for me was the 5-step progression of boys to elders. Between the ages of 12-15 the young Maasai boys are circumcised making this the first step into manhood, then at age 15 they are trained to become warriors (this lasts for 9 years), after they become middle man, from there a man at which point they are eligible to be married, and then the final stage is becoming an elder.

As an extra bonus, the professor/teacher in me, I was elated to be able to see the kindergarten class in session. I love when children have such enthusiasm…

These past few days have truly been enlightening and confirming! This would be another time coming to the continent and feeling like being in a second home. On our way to dinner one of the Maasai asked us where we were from and when we replied USA/America, he would then in turn tell us “you look like you are African, like you belong here…” That hit deep for me because I am real big person on this idea of “Home” and belonging. For him and several others to say we are Home it really makes you think who we are and where we fit in.

Let me tell you I AM PROUD to be a BLACK WOMAN whose ancestors are from AFRICA!! No one can ever take that away!

—

So today closes out our last day in the northern part of Tanzania, tomorrow we are headed to Zanzibar! I cannot wait to share what new experiences and memories will be gained!!

See you tomorrow!! Happy October!!

~Dr. G

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

Weekly Trailer Alerts!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Coming to the close of another month, but the trailers still keep coming! Check them out below:

Season 3: Volume 2-The Witcher (Streaming on Netflix July 27th)

Season 6-The Chi (Streaming on Showtime August 4th)

https://youtu.be/VDtFuxaDGzQ

The Passenger (Streaming August 4th on Paramount Network)

Season 2-Winning Time (Streaming August 6th on Max)

https://youtu.be/z76liPf7o-4

Season 2-Rap Sh!t (Streaming August 10th on Max)

https://youtu.be/tqR76mqILkU

Retribution (In theaters August 25th)

Season 2-The Wheel of Time (Streaming September 1st on Prime Video)

Gen V (Streaming September 29th on Prime Video)

Posted in Dr. G's Pop Culture Corner (PCC), Feature Spotlight, On the Desk...

Sharing Some Animation Goodies!!-Dr. G’s Pop Culture Corner (PCC)

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Good People! Good People!!

So it is nothing like having good friends who keep you posted on new goodies that are dropping within the pop culture arena! While preparing for our weekly writing session, my colleague and friend Michael Hall shared with me a new Disney+ animated anthology series that dropped last week called Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire! Immediately I did a quick Google search and to my delight, I was hooked! Premiering on July 5th Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is a new series that blends elements of Africanfuturism, Afrofuturism, cyberpunk, sci-fi, and fantasy to tell 10 inclusive stories of African histories and cultures.

“This is Africa as you’ve never seen it before.” Advanced technology, spirits, aliens, and time travel…SIGN ME UP!!

Produced by Triggerfish Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios, executive produced by Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Rise of the Guardians) with Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston as supervising producers, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is what Ramsey describes as a series with “recognizable genres and recognizable aspects of contemporary culture, but they’re wrapped in African culture.” You got my attention! Plus the representation of the African diaspora is in full effect, with stories from such countries as South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe…GAME CHANGER!!

With a cast that includes Florence Kasumba (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Captain America: Civil War, Wonder Woman, “Emerald City”), Kehinde Bankole (“Desperate Housewives Africa”, Blood Sisters), Nasty C (“Blood & Water”), Mo Ismail (“Star Trek Beyond”, ) and a plethora of up-and-coming African talent, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is definitely gonna change the game of how we tell animated stories!!

Now while I have not watched the series as of yet, I am already convinced this is legit greatness right here!! Just going off the trailer, the diverse representation, vibrant animation still shots, the voice cast, and the series direction, I’m willing to put my money on it sight unseen!

Photo Credit: Disney

This is totally in my personal and professional wheelhouse!! I am loving that more diverse African stories are being told and shared!! Cause trust me that content has and is there, the whole world just needs to see it!!

And just in case you need a little more convincing see the trailer below:

I am totally hyped about this series and siked that ALL episodes are available to watch!

I know what I will be binging on tonight!!

Hit me up in the comments and let me know what you think!!

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 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. 

———

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.

———

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.

———

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+.

———

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 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!!