Dear White People

"Remember when Black movies didn't neccesarily star a dude in a fat suit and a wig? Or have major plot twists timed to Gospel numbers for no apparent reason? No?

Well believe it or not there was a time when "Black Art-House" was a thing. When movies like Do The Right Thing, Hollywood Shuffle, and Boyz In Da Hood were breaking box office records as well as making us laugh, cry, and think in ways movies hadn't before.

The humble producers of DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, a satire about being a black face in a white place, long to bring those days back." DEAR WHITE PEOPLE follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over a popular "African American" themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film will explore racial identity in "post-racial" America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world.

  

I stumbled across this trailer on indiegogo.com and fell in love with the concept.  This group of independent filmmakers are looking to raise money to get this movie produced and released at a theatre near you!  After viewing the trailer, I must admit, it is a refreshing change from today's movies with  predominantly black casts.  Do you think this movie could be successful?

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Tees for the Natural

I'm all about representin for natural black beauty, especially in a society where silky straight is the most politically correct hair type.  There is something about rockin my fro or a colorful scarf and wearing a natural hair t-shirt that makes me feel extra confident.  Not to mention the positive comments and compliments make me feel extra awesome.  Sometimes you have to toot your own horn! Here are a few t-shirts that I'd like to add to my repertoire...WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE?

ThreeLittleBirdsTees on Etsy - $19.95

Bon Bon Vie - $25

Cafe Press - $26

I Love My Hair - $34

Close up of I Love My Hair t-shirt

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The Black Experience

I recently discovered Listmania! on Amazon.  Listmania! is a special section on Amazon that allows members to create lists of their favorite books, movies, etc.  During this discovery I came across a very interesting list posted by MikaNici entitled "The Black Experience".  The poster described the list as "books on black history, the black struggle, black power movements, and our continuing issues that every African American should read."  After glancing over the list, I must  agree.  As I state in my profile, I always strive to bring attention to African American culture, whether it be enlightening, informative, or entertaining.  I'm adding the books on this list to my reading list to complete over the next few years (it's a total of 40 books, so too much for a single year).  I'm excited about adding a little more substance (and depth) to my library, especially since a lot of the books are less than $5.00.  Some of them are even less than $1.00.  Of course, you can probably find the majority of these books in your local library but it never hurts to support our black authors.  I will probably go back and purchase my favorites.  Ultimately, I hope that I may have an even greater appreciation of my roots, my ancestor's fight, and the liberties that I'm afforded today.  Now, without further delay here is the list:

1. The Narrative of Sojourner Truth (Dover Thrift Editions) by Sojourner Truth
2. When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection (Dover Thrift Editions) by Norman R. Yetman
3. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl - Literary Touchstone Classic by Harriet A. Jacobs
4. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
5. Uncle Tom's Cabin (Dover Thrift Editions) by Harriet Beecher Stowe
6. The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter Godwin Woodson
7. The Souls of Black Folk (Enriched Classics Series) by W. E. B. Du Bois
8. Up From Slavery: An Autobiography by Booker T. Washington
9. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
10. Selected Writings and Speeches of Marcus Garvey (Dover Thrift Editions) by Bob Blaisdell
11. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
12. Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor
13. The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes by Arnold Rampersad
14. Classical Black Nationalism: From the American Revolution to Marcus Garvey by Wilson Moses
15. Modern Black Nationalism: From Marcus Garvey to Louis Farrakhan by William Van Deburg
16. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Alex Haley
17. Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements by Malcolm X
18. Waiting 'Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America (Henry Holt Co) by Peniel E. Joseph
19. The Black Panthers Speak by Philip S. Foner
20. Revolutionary Suicide: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Huey P. Newton
21. Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton by Bobby Seale
22. To Die for the People by Huey P. Newton
23. Assata: An Autobiography (Lawrence Hill & Co.) by Assata Shakur
24. Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver
25. Blood in My Eye by George L. Jackson
26. Will You Die with Me?: My Life and the Black Panther Party by Flores A. Forbes
27. The COINTELPRO Papers: Documents from the FBI's Secret Wars Against Dissent in the United States (South End Press Classics Series) by Ward Churchill
28. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
29. Long Walk to Freedom: With Connections (HRW Library) by Nelson Mandela
30. Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery by Na?im Akbar
31. Race Matters by Cornel West
32. There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America by Alex Kotlowitz
33. The Reckoning: What Blacks Owe to Each Other by Randall Robinson
34. The Covenant with Black America (English and English Edition) by Various Contributors
35. Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority by Tom Burrell
36. How to Rent a Negro by Damali Ayo
37. The Conversation: How Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships by Hill Harper
38. The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life by Kevin Powell
39. Come On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors by Bill Cosby
40. Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America by John H. McWhorter

I will keep you all updated on my progress in the comment section below and make a note of my favorites.

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Black Girls RUN!

Running is something I started incorporating into my fitness regime earlier this year.  For me, it's a great way to burn off energy and stress.  I can get lost in my thoughts, leave the world behind, and burn off a few extra calories all at the same time.  We all know the health benefits associated with running but maybe you've never gotten into running.  Maybe you don't know where to start or you find running boring. 

Toni & Ashley, Founders of Black Girls RUN!

In 2009, Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks created Black Girls RUN! in an effort to tackle the growing obesity epidemic in the African American community and provide encouragement and resources to both new and veteran runners.  The mission of Black Girls RUN! (BGR!) is to encourage African American women to make fitness and healthy living a priority.  The most wonderful thing about this organizations and their subsidaries all around the country is that all fitness levels are welcomed.  The idea behind BGR! is not only to meet other women who share the same desire to maintain good health, but also encourge you to bring your sister, aunt or mother with you.  Regardless of your fitness level (or ethnicity), there is always room for you at BGR! Visit their web page www.blackgirlsrun.com to learn more about the organization, get BGR! gear and find a BGR! running group near you. So get running and preserve the sexy!

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Rhianna Receives Racist Remarks

I recently learned about racial comments that appeared in a Dutch magazine about popular R&B singer Rhianna.  Andrea Brown, author of the blog The Uptown Lounge, has a more thorough account of the article.  Some of the "highlights" of the write-up refer to Rhianna's shoes as  "pornheels" and refer to her as "ghetto a**" and a "n*ggab*tch".  Read the entire article here via The Uptown Lounge.

It's sad to learn these types of things are still happening in 2012.

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Black History in Danger

A local Ohio newspaper recently wrote an article about the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center located in Cincinnati.  The Freedom Center, which has been open since 2004, is in danger of closing because it does not attract enough visitors and cannot cover its operating expenses.

The Freedom Center's exhibits offer visitors unique, illuminating and inspiring experiences.  Brothers of the Borderland is one of the permanent exhibits sponsored by the Boeing Company.  This exhibit immerses guests in a thrilling flight to freedom showcasing the courage and cooperation of two abolitionists in Ripley, OH as they aid a woman risking it all to flee slavery.  The 25-minute film features a segment narrated by Oprah Winfrey that introduces the main historical figures John Parker and Rev. John Rankin.  The film is shown in an "experiental" theatre, complete with fog rising from the river and crickets chirping in the background.

Museums all across the country draw thousands of visitors each year featuring various historical exhibits yet this beautiful museum is in danger of closing its doors.  I have my own opinions about why a museum that documents one of America's darkest times is struggling financially.  Why do you think the Freedom Center has not been as successful as other museums in our country?

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