In light of the recent controversy over the Dutch Magazine, Jackie’s ignorant article on Rihanna, in which she was called “de niggabitch” (reminiscent of the term “negro wench“), I decided to give my two cents on how I feel about the word. When I was younger, I was completely against the use of the word. […]
Read More The N-Word…… who’s naughty or nice.” Although “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” may seem like an innocent Christmas song, could there have been subtle motives to its creation. Last year, I read Mark Anthony Neal‘s post about the song that I found interesting. Here is a sample of it and you can read the rest […]
Read More “He’s Making a List, And Checking It Twice, Gonna Find Out…Professor of Sociology, African American Studies and Library and Information Science, Abdul Alkalimat, has recorded several lectures about theory in black studies. The five lectures are available at the eblack studies website. In his lectures, Alkalimat discusses ideology, methodology, history, tradition and debate. So far, I have seen only the tradition lecture in which he […]
Read More Rethinking Black Studies…I was listening to the podcast Blacking It Up yesterday and documentary filmmaker Byron Hurt was there discussing his new film, Soul Food Junkies. Lolis Eric Elie, who came to my college Baruch in September to discuss the show Treme, is in this film, too. Not only is he a jazz journalist, but he is […]
Read More Thoughts for Food…Here are two posts expanding more on the term afrofuturism: “Afrofuturism: A Beautiful History, A Brave New World” by Nicole D. Sconiers “We have a beautiful history, and we shall create another in the future that will astonish the world.” — Marcus Garvey AfroFuturism is a culture that has emerged to render a portrait of […]
Read More What is Afrofuturism? Part 3VV Brown feat. Chiddy Bang- Children Does this tune sound familiar? Hear ice cream trucks play it all the time? Well, this tune is actually over 150 years old. It was a well-known American folk song from the early 19th century. Originally popularized with blackface minstrel performers, the tune was associated with several songs — […]
Read More Zip Coon to VV Brown…On this Thanksgiving day, while we spend time together with family and friends, eat and be thankful for everything, I still want everyone to be knowledgeable of the myth of the origin of the holiday: For more information, check out Susan Bates’ website, Oyate post, Lies My Teacher Told Me book website, NPR story and countless […]
Read More I Am Thankful for Having Empathy…Negro: A Docu-Series about Latino Identity Created by Dash Harris, this docu-series explores Latino identity throughout the world and issues of racism, colorism and social consequences of a color complex throughout the community. This is the first part of the series and it focuses on the stereotypes of Latinos. If you have seen Henry Louis Gates’ […]
Read More Negro (and say it with a Spanish accent!)Tiya Miles is a 2011 MacArthur Fellow, which gives $500,000 grant to individuals who have shown exceptional creativity in their work and the promise to do more. Currently, Miles is a professor of history, African and African-American studies and Native American studies in Michigan. She is researching the history of the interactions between Native American […]
Read More Modern Griots: What is a “Public Historian?”Several months ago, I saw a few of Cauleen Smith‘s short films, including “The Changing Same” and “Green Dress,” at the Studio Museum of Harlem. Smith is an experimental film director with an Afrofuturistic focus, dealing with issues about identity and black women. Her alter ego’s name is Kelly Gabron, a character that allows her to […]
Read More Modern Griots: Cauleen Smith
Sherese Francis 