Celebrating Community
THE GREATS- Before Social Media My earliest entertainment memories include the likes of Boys II Men, Eddie Murphy, Micheal Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, and many more. Growing up I remember watching these entertainers and adoring their undeniable talent. The culture that I was raised in applauded talent and skill, to the extent that most could not ascend to […]
Where Do You Stand? It’s time to pick a side. Today, more adults than ever identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, many being people of color. The Black community’s relationship with sexuality has long been tied to respectability and racism. Black men and women are often seen as sexual objects, praised, feared, or rejected because of their bodies. The […]
Just 3 years ago Amala Dlamini, famously known as Doja Cat could have been described as a humorous and talented niche musician. In some ways Doja Cat is an unlikely music star, however considering all her talents, ‘marketability’ and how well she mixes her various genre influences, it’s surprising she wasn’t famous sooner. On June 25, 2021 the “Streets” musician […]
The race for New York City mayor is intensifying, as candidates campaign towards the June 22nd primary date. Currently, 14 candidates are running for a chance to lead the largest city in America into a new ‘post pandemic’ era. Among these candidates is Paperboy Love Prince. On the surface Paperboy may seem like an unlikely candidate, however, after a closer […]
When genre-bending musician Lil Nas X debuted his single Montero (Call Me by Your Name) in March 2021, no one could have predicted its accompanying video, nor the outrage that would quickly follow. When the music video debuted, the reaction was reminiscent of early 2000’s pop culture shock –– Janet Jackson’s nipple gate at the 2004 Super Bowl, or more […]
A Decade of Black Twitter For the better part of the last decade, America has experienced a snowball of push back against customs that were once considered social norms, now acknowledged to be inappropriate. Social media continues to play a major role in a particular kind of public and social accountability, also known as ‘canceling.’ In recent months we’ve […]
“War is politics with bloodshed, politics is war without bloodshed.” Fred Hampton’s words are profound and captured perfectly in the new movie about the real Black Panthers, produced by Ryan Coogler, who brought forth 2018’s Black Panther. Judas and The Black Messiah follows the life of the dynamic teen activist Fred Hampton, who rose to become the Chicago Black Panther […]
To pursue your childhood aspirations, your first dream, takes audacity and faithful conviction. For some of us, remembering our dreams gets harder as we grow into adulthood. However, for Jazmin Johnson becoming a successful filmmaker is one dream she is bringing to life. When I first learned of Jazmin Johnson, I was privileged enough to read one of her scripts. […]
2020…trash but still ironic The irony of 2020 also being synonymous with perfect vision is hard to miss, as last year was definitely illuminating – racial injustice, health care disparities, government unpreparedness, and the loss of several cultural icons. Then there was the presidential election, centered amidst an ongoing pandemic. The election spilled into 2021 as Georgia Senate runoffs took […]
The grasslands, hills, and prairies of Staten Island’s Freshkills Park project seems like something out of The Sound of Music, or a Midwestern nature landscape. While New York City may not be synonymous with nature, this lesser-known development could put a dent in that perception. Freshkills is developing into the largest park in New York City, even bigger than Central […]