A Thousand And One

I finally sat down on my day off and watched A Thousand and One. A beautiful and heartbreaking movie about family, love and sacrifice. Directed by Gotham Award Winner A.V. Rockwell. Starring the incredibly talented Teyana Taylor who wears many hats. She’s a musician, model, choreographer and creative director. Homegirl can truly do it all. Teyana plays the main role of Inez De La Paz, a young woman who is just released from jail for petty crimes. William Catlet who plays Inez’s love interest/Husband name Lucky. Lucky is also newly released when they cross paths again. Introducing Aaron Kingsley who plays Terry (child), Aven Courtney as Terry (Preteen/Teen) and Josiah Cross as Terry (Teenager/Young Adult). Terry is a quiet young kid who’s stuck in the system. Staying with unreliable foster parents and ending up in the hospital Inez decides her child should be with their mother.

We follow Inez who’s back in Brooklyn New York during the 90’s. Gentrification seems slow then all of sudden long-time homes are new condos, new retail, new coffee shops. Inez sets out to start a new beginning for each other. Each moment spent surviving and figuring out the next move until things seem to fall into place. But not everything can always be easy.

“THERES MORE TO LIFE THAN FUCKED UP BEGINNINGS” - Inez

This film is so important because it shows the Black family with no constraints. Inez might not be your stereotypical mother but she loves hard and she makes sure Terry gets the education he deserves and to enjoy being a kid. She understands that the world will try to make him grow up too fast, make him out to be something he isn’t. The whole time you’re rooting for their family. For them to grab the system by the horns.

The acting in this movie by all three Terrys is fantastic. Each actor portraying Terry really captures each stage of Terry. Watching him grow up to be this timid young kid to a timid adult who’s finally opening up and learning to be themselves. When they realize they can go farther by being themselves is the best thing ever. Truly a masterpiece showing a story through our own point of view.

Cuz fuck it, “I’ve already won, because I know you’re going to be somebody.” -Inez

Now Streaming on Amazon Prime

Noname: Sundial

IT’S HERE! After much anticipation, Noname has graced us with another album, Sundial. My favorite tracks so far are Black Mirror, Ballons, Boom Boom and Beauty Supply. I feel like Noname is usually a slower pace rapper. She’s very much a poet when conducting so I was pleasantly surprised when the songs felt faster, a little more spring in the beats and lyrics. I love that Noname isn’t afraid to call herself out about things that she said she would never do but then life happens and you gotta move on. People are mad that she doesn’t like the fact that White people listen to her music. But I believe that is too simplistic. It’s the same flack that Lauryn Hill gets. Whenever a Black artist tells their audience this is for their people, White people get so upset. but historically Black people have been out of everything, and we don’t get mad, we create our own lane. But how can white people create their own lane when they historically take and steal our talents. I feel like it’s more about the deeper fact that Noname doesn’t actually care if you like her or not because when it comes down to it, she made this music for people like me. end of story. take it or leave it.

I also love the fact that she is being more open about dating and her sexuality which is no one’s business but with all this queer hate spewing around it’s good to hear lyrics that shows Noname herself is in new relationships, being comfortable with herself etc. Black and Brown communities need to come together for our queer brothers and sisters and nonbinary folks.

Overall, I really enjoyed this album, I love seeing Noname express herself, I am disappointed on how quick men and white people feel the need to try and nitpick at this album that has nothing to do with them. Sometimes Black Women just want to exist.

Survival of the Thickest

From the hilarious comedian Michelle Buteau. Survival of the Thickest is fucking gold. A more coming of middle age story when you think you have your shit together until your partner of 5 years fucks it up by cheating on a skinny version of you. FUCKING MEN.

But what do you do? YOU KEEP IT FUCKING PUSHIN AND KEEP YOUR PLANTS WATERED!!!

Cast includes Michelle Buteau as Mavis, Tone Bell (Just want to give homie his flowers, I really enjoyed him in Disjointed) as Khalil aka Reading Rainbow Nigga (lol) that had me hollerin. Tasha Smith (ATL) as Marley, the baddest bitch EVER! this woman has been acting her ass off since the beginning. Marouane Zotti (I may destroy you) as Luca.

After adjusting to leaving a 5-year long relationship and focusing on her passion of designing. Mavis is figuring out what makes her happy, what she’s willing to work for and what she truly wants in the end. of course, it comes with ups and downs, help from her friends and the queer community that helps hold her down and lift her spirits. The show touches on sexuality, body positivity, vulnerability, communication and boundaries. All episodes available on Netflix.

They Cloned Tyrone

Holy Shit. This was the fucking movie.

Cast includes: Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, John Boyega as Fontaine, Teyonah Paris as Yo-Yo. All three of them do a fantastic job. The comedy alone was spectacular. The fiery spit ball of off the wall shit that would come out of both Teyonah and Jamie Foxx’s mouth was insane. This Blackploitation meets Sci-fi Comedy Thriller will have you on your toes.

This movie had me so fucked up. I was laughing, I was crying, I was fucking thinking. This shit is fantasy. It’s funny. But it was also relatable. Sometimes traumatic. The club scene made my stomach hurt. This sense of recognizing being dehumanize. This knowing. Very well done movie.

The Blackening

Cast includes: Grace Byers as Allison, Melvin Gregg as KING, Sinqua Walls as Nnamdi, Dwayne Perkins as Dwayne. Antionette Robertson as Lisa, Jermain Fowler as Clifton and X mayo as Shanika. Directed by Tim Story.

A group of friends gather for a reunion only to find themselves playing a game for survival. A Comedy thriller that will have you hollerin’ at all the Black movie references/ pop culture. This movie was truly such a fun watch. I loved the dynamics of each character, and I loved the serious conversations. The dialogue between Lisa and Dwayne. I don’t think conversations like this enough in Black movies let alone in mainstream movies where both the lead role and supportive or Black actors/ Queer Black actors.

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Summer Walker Clear 2: Soft Life EP

After much anticipation, Summer Walker has finally released her third EP. Features include J.Cole and Childish Gambino. Production includes likes of Solange, Steve Lacy and John Kirby. This EP feels grown as fuck to be honest. It feels that Summer is giving her insight after all the ups and downs with love. When listening to her tracks you feel a bit sad, maybe even reminded about the partners in your life that have made you disappointed. The feeling you get when you realize this might not be a happy ending. But she reminds you that you have to first love and respect yourself while also taking care of business.

What I love most about Summer Walker is how relatable she is, even now. She’s not on some fake shit and will tell you exactly how she feels about something. She’s worked very hard to get where she is today. That’s the struggle of being a woman. We are constantly working hard not just for ourselves but for our partners, family and children. We are always making sure everyone else is good, but who looks out for us?

Make sure your listening! Available on all streaming platforms!

Awkward Black Girl Update

Wow, it’s been a minute since I’ve done an update post. Let’s see… things still feel fucked. Right? Like this can’t just be me. States are still passing bullshit laws against African American Studies, Latinx and Jewish studies. I mean if that’s not blatant racism, what the fuck else would it be? Bills and policies are being set up to hurt people from the GLBTQ+ Community. So many states just passed outlawing abortion. Things are feeling like it’s fucking 1954 or some shit.

I mean it is definitely a time to be alive. Wars across the world with Ukraine, Afghanistan (which we don’t hear much about anymore) and Sudan is having a crisis. Climate change fucking everything up from tornadoes, fires, and floods. Here in Minnesota we had three 85 degree days and then the next week it was snowing again. I know things are shitty everywhere and you can’t dwell but GODDAMN. And that’s just a small percentage of all the fucked up things happening.

More deaths are happening. School shootings, places in general getting shot up. I constantly feel like I’m watching over my shoulder. At the grocery store, the movies, at target, shit even at work. You never know who you may encounter and if they are gonna just end your fucking life. I know we as humans can only control so much, can only do so much but sometimes all of this seems so unbearable. So unnecessary.

On a more personal note, I’m mentally doing better than I was. But now that my mental is fine I’m learning that my physical body isn’t. I have to wear a heart monitor for the next three weeks to make sure things are okay but my gut feeling says otherwise. Being a Black woman with very unhealthy health history from both sides of my family did not do me any favors. I keep telling myself that I can’t die like my mother. When she was 40 she had a quadruple bypass heart surgery and by the age of 54 I was sobbing goodbye to her at the age of seventeen. I don’t want to be a statistic. I’m afraid to be a statistic. It’s a weird mindset to just want to live pass your parents. I just need to live longer than my father. He died at 37, I’m 34 this year. I think if I’m lucky I can live past my mother.

It’s funny how death just lingers. It never truly leaves us. It’s too patient.

This is a weird spot to leave it but I will leave you with that thought. What do you want to accomplish before you die? what do you want to be remembered for?

BEEF

I’m not even sure where to start besides, this is the best fucking show of the year. Hands down my favorite show i’ve seen so far. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong are phenomenal. BEEF is a Netflix + A24 production about two strangers that have a road range encounter. Instead of letting it go they find themselves entangled in each other’s lives hoping to destroy it. But what unfolds, becomes bigger than the two of them.

@stevenyeun Showing Characters Danny and Paul

BEEF was such a fun watch, the dialogue was hilarious and you never knew which direction it would take you. The playlist to this show should also be mention because it hit every time. tracks like The Reason from Hoobastank to I Don’t Want to Wait by Paula Cole. The introduction to each show with a new painting and thoughtful titles to each episode were clever, the detail in general was on point to the very end.

What I love most about these “anti-heroes” is they’re relatable. They are human. They make mistakes, they don’t know how to own up to them but they also work really fucking hard. They show up for their families everyday even though it feels unbearable. Even if the world is constantly testing them. A haunting yet beautiful and triggering theme through this series is depression/suicidal thoughts. It’s been a long time since I’ve watch a show that describes those feelings so perfectly. Ali Wong’s character Amy Lau tries to talk to her husband about feeling like the ground is constantly on her chest. No matter how much she does or tries to shake it off it is there like an invisible blanket. Steven Yeun’s character Danny is also going though depression and the cultural expectations to take care of his Korean Family.

Without spoiling to much, Danny and Amy let something so little fester into something so big that they can no longer run from it. They can no longer run from themselves. Like the old saying, some shit you can only go through to get to the end and that’s exactly what both of them will have to do.