Once again, the Oscars are SO WHITE. But why are we surprised? We take a group of mostly all white men who are old AF, who watch and are entertained by mostly white movies, and expect them to unbiasedly choose what movies/actors deserve recognition. Yet we are amazingly surprised that they chose ZERO movies of color or POC...? Why should we continue to allow what white people and "mainstream" deem as recognition of excellence become our truth? Why is it even considered MAINSTREAM?!? There are so many talented actors of color and we should celebrate them ourselves! Just like we have BLACK GIRLS ROCK, we need to create the Black Oscars: a space where we can celebrate and take pride in our excellence! If Latinos can have the Latin Grammys, then why can't we have our own Oscars??? I believe Jada Pinkett Smith said it best, both via Twitter and Facebook video. Read and watch below:
As if schooling the world on cultural appropriation [Watch: here] and making it on TIME's Most Influential Teens of 2015 list [Read: here] weren't enough, the young queen Amandla Stenberg has penned a comic book, Niobe: She Is Life, with a strong Black woman as the heroine. Well, biracial heroine, but we all know about that one drop rule lol and I gladly embrace biracial peeps over here. When asked about her decision to write a comic for young Black girls, Amandlatold Huff Post “I connect to her mixed racial background and quest to discover her innate powers and strengths, to learn who she truly is…” I'm over here like
That's what I love about young ladies such as Amandla, Zendaya, Malia, and Willow Smith, they're using their platform for good and it makes me so proud to be exuding so much melanin! It's hard being Black in AmeriKKKa and it's awesome to know that so many young people take it upon themselves to shed light on important racial issues.
When I tell you Black girls are MAGIC, I truly mean that they are MAGICAL! The beautiful Amandla Stenberggave us a dose of how wise beyond her years she is when she served up a slice of humble pie and burst the white privilege bubble of so many clueless Americans when she went in about cultural appropriation [Watch: here]. Malia Obamais America's sweetheart. First daughter to the amazing POTUSand FLOTUS, scholar, beautiful, headstrong, and basically the consummate role model for every teenage girl in the world. Zendaya, oh my, where can I begin? She's basically made everyone under the sun take note due to her strong convictions and beautiful personality. She's proven time and time again that she's not just a beautiful face but an intellectual young woman with her head on straight. These teens are more than influential for their peers but adults as well. Is it weird that they inspire me as well???
At any rate, if you haven't kept up with these amazing young Black queens then you need to! I'm sure Willow Smithwill be on that list before you know it! She's definitely an old soul and a force to be reckoned with!
Loving the role models that are arising in this generation. For a moment, I thought all was lost in this world of IG THOTs and fame whores. SHINE ON QUEENS!
I guess Apple Music got hip to the reality that Black Girls are MAGIC and released a Melanin filled commercial starring Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson, and Mary J. Blige. The commercial was directed by the Queen of Melaninherself, Ava DuVernay, most notably known for directing "Selma". This commercial was flirty, fun, relatable, and squad goals AF!!! When I tell you Black don't crack?!? I watched that commercial and felt like a superwoman because I too possess that amazing Melanin. I was like
Viola Davismade history this past weekend by becoming the first African American woman to ever win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama. And though I should be ecstatic, it was long overdue. You can't convince me that in 150 years there was NO Black woman worthy. BYE. Miss me with your covert white supremacy. At any rate, her speech was inspiring. She said, and I quote, "In my mind, I see a line. And over that line I see green fields and lovely flowers, and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line. But I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line." A quote from the most honorable deceased Harriet Tubman, a pioneer of her time as well. Watch the touching moment in full below:
Also nominated for the seemingly unreachable if you're a WOC category was the lovely Taraji P. Henson, who visited Ellen to speak about the bittersweet moment of losing to Davis, but the joy of having that first no longer a thing...finally! What a beautiful spirit!
I love the fact that Davis used her speech to recognize other women in the industry who have worked just as hard as she, who have paved away, and made it possible for young brown boys and girls to aspire to greatness. But...*dramatic music* you know her speech would not have been as powerful as it was without the resistance of privileged whites who feel the need to try and assuage their white guilt whilst crying their pitiful white tears. Case in point: Nancy Lee Grahn (Yes I made her name red like the white devil she is LMFAO). Now doesn't that sound like a southern ass name plagued with a racist history and white guilt?! She took her dumb ass to twitter to discuss what she felt Violashouldn't say during her speech. She also went as far to say Violawas never discriminated against. Ma'am.
This moment IS NOT and WILL NOT become about you. Yes, you've raised the hellfire that is Black Twitter once they set their sights on a prey but NO. This moment is about Viola Davis and women who LOOK like her. Women who've had doors closed in their faces and glass ceilings placed above them time and time again. I refuse to let you take this moment of victory turn it into a tragedy. In fact, the only thing that's tragic right now are your mentions and your reputation. Straight like that. I'm pretty sure Viola was reading twitter like
Speaking of Viola Davis? I salute you Black Queen, may your everlasting melanin, now and forevermore, reign supreme. #BlackGirlsRock
Congrats to the other winners as well, namely Regina King and Uzo Aduba. I'm inspired each and every day by your accomplishments.
