I learned to centre the African American experience growing up as a Black British child. Growing up black in South London, my experience was so rarely represented in British television film and music. Last year, I explained how I exclusively looked to the Americans for affirmation that my blackness was beautiful and mattered when I was younger. I understood, at least on a purely aesthetic level, the nature of the African American experience because I consumed their varied representations while the UK was still floundering to fully articulate the similar but ultimately different Black British experience on the small and silver screens. Grime artist Stormzy’s number one album and Michaela Coel’s BAFTA Award winning turn creating Chewing Gum herald a new age for the Black British community where we are finally cementing our autonomy as worthy participants in the global creative community. This visibility of British Blackness, on our terms, has never before been seen in the multifaceted way it is today.
Read moreBy Moonlight, Hidden Figures Built Fences
This winter I dove off a cliff, headfirst; cinematic black excellence rushing towards. The onslaught against my senses; visually, sonically was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Often throughout the multiple screenings of Fences, Hidden Figures and Moonlight I’ve attended, I found my face wet, tears having slid down my cheeks and puddled on my chest, for no other reason than I had never before witnessed all these three films were offering. The lazy, sumptuous indulgence with which Denzel Washington allows August Wilson’s words to live eternally through Viola Davis and his stellar cast. The three black women in segregated Virginia working at NASA Octavia Spencer, Taraji P Henson and Janelle Monae brought to life after being hidden for so long. Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s play ‘In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue’ translated to celluloid with Barry Jenkins’ masterful vulnerability. When I came up for air, having immersed myself fully in the waters of these three films, one thing was clear; Hollywood’s antiquated notions of blackness had been shaken to its very core, not yet dismantled but on its way to ruin.
Read moreSerena Williams & Unfettered White Fragility
Dr Robin DiAngelo’s article explains “White Fragility is a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviours such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviours, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium.” Buckle your seat belts for this flight through white fragility of the highest order.
Read moreBeyonce, Black Joy & White Women
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter announced her pregnancy and the impending arrival of her twins on Instagram this past Wednesday 1st February 2017, the first day of America’s Black History Month. Happiness, joy and glee instantly burst forth from every corner of the internet, it’s light shining bright in the political darkness that has shrouded the world recently. The much-needed reprieve from the turmoil felt from seashore to seashore revealed itself in lapping waves as more photos from Beyoncé’s maternity shoot were released on her website accompanied by a poem, “I Have Three Hearts” written by Warsan Shire, the poet responsible for the words in the 2016 film Lemonade. The race was on to come up with the wittiest tweet or the most creative meme celebrating the joyous occasion. The beautiful photograph, shot by celebrated, Ethiopian photographer Awol Erizku, quickly became the most liked photograph in Instagram history and as of the writing of this post has more than 9 million and counting.
Read moreClara Amfo & Defeating Cultural Appropriation
Clara Amfo has risen, step by well-timed step, to become a staple on British radio. Originally on Kiss FM, now as the host of BBC Radio One’s morning show, she’s interviewed the world’s biggest stars and has done so without having to assimilate her image to fall in line with the industry standard for black women; I’m talking about her hair. Years before she started wearing it in an afro, she wore her hair in big Ghana twists; a bold move considering the insidious, prevailing, pervasive notion that black women’s hair in its natural state is “unprofessional” and “unacceptable” for the corporate environment. There is quantifiable evidence of the policing of the way black women present themselves and their hair. The backlash black women (and girls) have faced for daring to wear their hair naturally grows as opposed to perming, straightening it or wearing a wig to keep a job or stay in a classroom is chronicled in the stories of Malaika Maos Eyoh and her South African school's aggressive ban on natural hair, Simone Powderly's ultimatum to lose her braids or lose her job and countless others. Despite Clara’s decision not to conform in styles that help keep her hair healthy, to wear her hair how she is comfortable and happy instead acquiescing to society’s pressures her career progression hasn’t been hindered as she continues her climb to the height of British media.
Read moreThe Infantilisation of Melania Trump
Former First Lady Michelle LaVaughn Obama was thrust into the public spotlight during her husband Former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007. Immediately I recognised in her the standard bearer of all my aspirations and physical, quantifiable proof I could achieve all I set my sights on. The most highly educated First Lady in American History, she is so well loved Marmalade Mussolini was warned against attacking her on the campaign trail. My first cultural studies essay in University was about the politicisation of Michelle Obama’s hair and to my great pride I scored 92% for my efforts. Do you get it? I love the woman and to love her is to be abreast of stories circulating about her; the good, the sexist, the racist and the violent. Mikki Kendall compiled a list of “22 times Michelle Obama endured rude, racist, sexist or just plain ridiculous attacks” for The Washington Post. The listicle is a reminder that Michelle Obama has had to be stronger and more graceful than any First Lady before her for no other reason than the colour of skin.
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Read moreStacey Dash & Hilarious Communpence
Dear Stacey Dash,
I heard your contract as a correspondent for Fox News was not renewed today and a laugh bubbled up from the depths of my spirit so hearty it nearly knocked me off my feet. Since you became a contributor to Fox News in 2014, I have watched you spew divisive diatribe from your platform both on screen and online. You chose to model yourself after the Katie Hopkins and the Ann Coulters of the world but ah! You forgot one thing sis; you are a black woman. Thus, despite your proximity to whiteness, your melanin rendered you expendable to your bosses at Fox News.
Read moreMimi, BKChat LDN & Misogynoir
People who work corporate positions have disciplinary hearings when there’s misconduct in the workplace. When you’re a self employed creative, misconduct on social media is addressed on Twitter. Receipts are produced and Twitter Court convenes to judge the voracity of the evidence and eventually hand down a sentence. After Mimi’s appearance on BKChat LDN’s latest episode, the people of Twitter, curious about the character of the new cast member, delved into Mimi’s Twitter history and uncovered a treasure trove of damning, racist tweets. The racism in her tweets was exclusively for black women. She tweeted repeatedly about black women having “bad hair”, ensuring to use the word in the pejorative sense, as the reason black men preferred women outside their race and other tweets full of hate specifically directed at black women. She issued an apology deleted her twitter history and made her account private. Ah, but this isn’t British Black Twitter’s first time at the rodeo and they had enough evidence to draw up charges.
Read moreBKChat LDN & Respectability Politics
If you don’t know, first of all wyd and second lemme give you a quick run down. BKChat LDN is a UK phenomenon created by Andy Omadi The premise of the online talk show is 5 women and 5 men on opposing sides of the room debate subjects with wonderful titles like “Don’t As Me How Many People I’ve Slept With” and my personal favourite “He Broke Up With Me At A Bus Stop.” Since the first episode one month ago, the channel has racked up over 2 million views, has just shy of 60,000 subscribers and trends on Twitter every week without fail- to say they’re a big deal is an understatement. The production values are stupendous, the cast are beautiful. They’re gargantuan. I’m a fan- d’yunderstand?
Read moreHow The New York Times Failed Michaela Coel
Recently the New York Times posted their picks for Best TV Shows of 2016. The list included Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag, Donald Glover’s Atlanta and Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum. The article’s accompanying photography included images of Waller-Bridge and Glover but peculiarly instead of a picture of Coel, the creator and star of the show, the newspaper’s photo editor instead chose a picture of Danielle Walters- Coel’s lighter skinned co-star. At first glance, to some, this might seem like a simple oversight, until you realise the other accompanying imagery features lead act from the shows (bar one) lucky enough to make it on the New York Time’s end of year list. In my humble opinion you’d have to go out of your way to select a picture of Danielle Walters, regardless of her obvious beauty and talent, when it is two time BAFTA award winning Coel who heads the Netflix show.
Read moreThe Evolution of Black Women On Screen
Earlier this year I wrote a post about the sufferation of black women on screen. Fatigued by the incessant portrayals of black women as beasts of burden and strife, I lamented the stories of the black women characters in media were a “little more fiery, a little more brimstoney than the hell reserved for other women.” I might have spoken too soon as 2016 has proved to be a year where more black women than ever before have appeared on screen in TV shows and behind the camera as writers, directors and producers, saying that I am glad I did speak because we must never forget there was a time just 12 months ago when you’d be hard pressed to see so many black women in the forefront of shows.
Read moreTrevor Noah & The Normalisation of Hatred
The twittersphere was ablaze with headlines that Trevor Noah, host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show had “dragged”, “eviscerated” and “destroyed” white supremacist darling Tomi Lahren in their interview on Wednesday night’s show when in fact the interview was a calm analysis of Lahren’s views highlighting her racism and hypocrisy. The interview, like Lahren’s with Charlamagne The God, excited me, we were again going to see what civility in the face of bigotry looks like. While I was proud of Noah and happy because he landed many a zinger upon Lahren the aftertaste wasn’t enjoyable- where do we go from here? NYMag.com published an article advising those who oppose Trump and white supremacy need to learn “language matters” and we must learn how to engage those who hate us if we are going to persuade them the lives of those who do not look like them or share their values have as much value and importance as theirs.
Read moreHamilton, Mike Pence & The Onus of Civility
Someone told Mike Pence, United States Vice President-Elect, it was a good idea to attend Lin Manuel Miranda’s multi-award winning play Hamilton. They were wrong, they lied, he was scammed. Upon entering the building boos erupted from some members of the audience who were clearly unimpressed with the Indiana Governor, his campaign with running mate Donald Trump, his support of anti-LGBTQIA legislation or heaven forbid- all three. After the final bow, Hamilton lead Brandon Victor Dixon spoke to Mike Pence directly, calling for calm from the audience again booing the embarrassed politician, telling him diverse Americans were “alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us.”
Read moreGifty & The Faux Fear of Black Women
Gifty Louise received the fewest votes from the public along with girl group ______ last night on The X Factor and after a sing off was voted off the show by the judges. Instantly comments appeared on Twitter that Gifty was “angry” , “shifty” and she deserved to lose her place on the show because she had a poor attitude. Before I stopped watching the show I remember Gifty being a happy contestant, “maybe things had taken a turn for the worst since I’d last seen the show” I thought. Upon seeing the footage of her exit from the show I realised people online were misreading her facial expression as one of anger when what I saw was a young woman expressing extreme sorrow and regret and who was sad that her opportunity at winning the show was cut short. The problem is the British Public have been programmed to only recognise two emotions in black people, black women especially; anger and joy. To those unfamiliar with the nuances and expansive range of emotions black people are capable of expressing, her lack of a smile meant only one thing- she was duh Duh DUH angry.
Read moreHoney G & [The Erasure of] Black UK Women Rappers
I stopped watching X Factor recently. I want to say it’s because of Honey G, the polarising, talentless contestant Sharon Osbourne put through to the live rounds. The truth is the scathing, witty banter I used to partake in has dissipated as many of my Twitter friends no longer care for the Hunger Games that has become of the singing competition. Happily I haven’t had to witness first hand the offensive modern day black face that is Honey G, the self proclaimed “Top UK Rapper” from North London, perform her horrific performances of rap classics California Love, Mo Money Mo Problems and Men In Black. The furore surrounding her claims people are using the “race card” against her is laughable when it is her who is using her platform to make a mockery of the art form Black British women have honed for years without none of the support this joke has been gifted with.
Read moreAmy Schumer Throwing Stones & Hiding Hands
Do you remember MTV Icons? I’m talking specifically about the year P!NK, Mya and Usher performed tributes to Janet Jackson. Their medley was supremely choreographed, they were expertly styled from the tops of their heads to the tips of the toes and were introduced by our dearly departed Aaliyah.
Read moreSolange's Don't Touch My Hair Touched Me
Today marks the 4 month anniversary of starting at my current job, it is also 4 months since a white person has put their hands in my hair. At the last company I worked at, I was never sure when some white person’s hands would find their way into my hair- a lot of them would do it from the back denying me an opportunity to matrix out of the way. To them, it was innocent curiosity, to me it was an act of violence. My hair is personal to me, intimate in a way I cannot describe and to have had innumerable people touch it, tug it and comment “oh my god, it’s so soft” (every time) is a violation so difficult to articulate with mere words. After a year and a half of unwelcome fingers in my tresses, to have a 4 month respite is so welcome. The celebration of this momentous occasion was underscored by the release of Solange’s video “Don’t Touch My Hair.”
Read moreLuke Cage & The Best One Liners
It is true. The first season of Luke Cage could have been tighter. And while I agree with Mike Hale of the New York Times that the show’s lead Mike Colter didn’t feel “comfortable” carrying the show, I also agree with Rebecca Theodore when she countered with a resounding cry that black people are “not your sidekicks.” The show felt bloated in parts, it could have been trimmed back into 10 episodes instead of 13 but it is still a feat of epic proportions. Cheo Hodari Coker, the series showrunner, assembled the blackest cast to tell a black story on Netflix and it’s what I needed. If Solange poured warm honey in my ears with her seminal album A Seat At The Table, Coker surely washed my eyes with powerful images of black people on an adventure as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Read moreMary J Blige & The Problem With That Song
A collective “wyd, sis” sounded out across the Twittersphere when Apple released the trailer for Mary J Blige’s The 411, The Queen of HipHop Soul and R&B’s upcoming sit down with the democratic presidential candidate Secrertary Hillary Clinton.
Read moreAn Ode To The FBI Agent In Mr Robot
This post is fully of SPOLIERS you wont understand if you haven’t watched both seasons of Mr Robot.
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