The Black Bechdel Test: Our Song (2000)

(Excerpted from my column at Zora & Alice:)

Starring Kerry Washington, Melissa Martinez, and Anna Simpson

More than one named female character of color? Yes

Who spoke to one another? Yes

About something other than a man? Yes

Summary: Filmed in 2000, Our Song will take you back to your younger days, when your best friends were your entire world. That’s certainly the case for Lanisha Brown (played by a young Kerry Washington), Maria Hernandez (Melissa Martinez), and Joycelyn Clifton (Anna Simpson), the young women at the center of this urban coming of age story. At the film’s opening, summer school seems to have started off on the wrong foot after the girls learn that their Brooklyn public school will not be reopening in the fall, thanks to an uncovering of asbestos. Soon after, a new set of unforeseen discoveries ensues, threatening to ultimately drive the once close-knit threesome not only to different schools, but on to different life paths as well.

Young love admittedly plays an important role in the story line, but it is not the only important subject that friends discuss. Issues such as biracial identity (Latin and Black American), teenage pregnancy, living in the inner city, and budding romantic relationships dominate this picture perfect film, but the power of female friendships is what reigns supreme.

So, did Our Song pass The Black Bechdel Test? Find out here at Zora & Alice!

The Black Bechdel Test: Stomp the Yard (2007)

(Excerpted from my column at Zora & Alice:)

Starring Columbus Short, Brian J. White, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, and Megan Good.

More than one named female character of color? Yes

Who spoke to one another? Yes

About something other than a man? Yes

Summary: From the opening scene to the closing credits, Stomp the Yard takes the viewer on a turbulent joy ride. The film centers around DJ Williams (Columbus Short), a young black man from inner-city Los Angeles who excels in underground dance battles.  After serving a stint in jail for assault, DJ is sent to Atlanta to stay with his aunt and uncle and attend Truth University, a historically black university. At Truth, DJ decides to pledge Theta Nu Theta fraternity. The film then follows him and his Theta Nu Theta brothers on their journey to win National Greek Stepping Competition. Along the way, DJ learns important life lessons about selflessness, reconciliation, and teamwork. Think School Dazemeets You Got Served meetsDrumline.

So, did Stomp the Yard pass The Black Bechdel Test? Find out at Zora & Alice!

Ozomatli, Fidel Nadal & Toy Selectach Play Prospect Park Bandshell

Photo courtesy of photogragher Joann Gomez

Excerpt from my post at Society HAE:

We’ve had a few scorchers these past weeks, but things got even hotter last Friday at the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn. CELEBRATE! Brooklyn and LAMC teamed up to present the Bud Light Latin Music Series, a multicultural smashup concert event featuring Latin artists Ozomatli, Fidel Nadal, and Toy Selectah. With a huge crowd turn-out as diverse as the lineup, the event provided everyone with an awesome assortment of fusion flavored sounds, including rock and reggae, hip hop and salsa, funk and merengue, and dancehall and cumbia.

Toy Selectah warmed up the crowd as the opening act, spinning some of his sickest mixes and giving us a taste of what happens when you mix infectious riddims with Mexican sound scapes. After his set, I got to dust off some of my Spanish-speaking skills to link up with this DJ/Producer of Monterey, Mexico and speak with him about his one-of-a-kind mixes. When asked about his process for seamlessly intermixing music, Toy explained that it “depends on the cadence, growth, and shuffle action” of a particular track. He also attributed the classic process of trial-and-error to some of his best mixes.

“Some fit perfectly,” said Toy.

(Post continued at Socitey HAE…)

The Black Bechdel Test: seeing women of color at the movies

Check out the first post of my new column THE BLACK BECHDEL TEST at the online magazine Zora & Alice:

(Source: Zora & Alice)

As women of color, we have been advised to lower our standards in men if we hope to end up married. The state of our love lives has become as newsworthy as the state of affairs in foreign countries, with both issues gracing the pages of significant news publications. Understandably, we shot back with an overwhelming number of our own blog posts, magazine articles, and public discussions. We wanted our sides of the story to be heard.

However, we’ve yet to become as provoked about the films, or lack thereof, focused on and featuring women of color as we have about marriage statistics. Sure, our business was put on blast when reporters decided to investigate our alleged pathos, but the repressed representations of women of color in film has a far more regressive impact on our advancement as people (that includes women and men) than those articles…Continue reading at Zora & Alice

TGIF: Clean Brows & Bright Lips

Among my friends and family, I’m known for being this revolutionary, black power, soul sister. I can definitely see where they get that image from (my Black Studies major, natural hair obsession, and sporadic cultural discussions might play a slight role.) But at the end of the day (or in this case, the week) I still consider myself to be a very “girly” woman. Ain’t no shame in my girly game either.

Some might say that my interests in beauty and fashion contradict my being an advocate for alternative images of women, but I just don’t see it that way. To me, as long as women are determining their own standards of beauty (and trust me, they can and should vary!) and are genuinely happy and confident in the process, then there shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, in our patriarchal societies most of the images attached to women, especially in regards to beauty, sexuality, and gender roles, have predominantly originated from the imaginations, fetishes, and objectives of men.  So that means that even though the trash may be coming from a women’s mouth or vision, that opinion or vision ultimately came from the leaders of this patriarchy…

But let me stop, before I ramble on and completely stray from my original intentions for this post.

Firstly, THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!

Secondly, I’ve decided to do a light post given that it’s Friday. That’s why I mentioned that I have a number of awesome “girly” interests that I’ve decided to share on this blog every Friday (and eventually, more often depending on what direction The Soul Model naturally takes.) This week’s TGIF is on video, because, honestly, who wants to read about makeup when you can TALK about it?

Alright, enough blabbing. Let’s get to the fun stuff!

The World Cup: Shakira & The Africa Bandwagon

I personally am not a huge sports fan, but there’s no denying the absolute magnetism of these World Cup games. Plus , the tournament is being held in my home away from home away from home, South Africa! Mzansi fo sho!

For the first time ever, 32 soccer teams from around the world have gathered in Africa to compete for the illustrious title of World Cup Champion. Check out this quick, easy-to-read World Cup primer that explains the tournament in greater detail-(World Cup Primer). People from everywhere have descended into South Africa and inevitably added even more multicultural dimensions to the already multicultural country. Take, for instance, the 2010 World Cup theme song “Waka Waka (Time for Africa),” an accurate portrayal of cross-cultural collaborations.

“Waka Waka (Time for Africa)” -Shakira, featuring Freshly Ground

This amazing song has been playing on repeat inside my head throughout the day. And while part of me can’t stop dancing to this infectious track, another part of me can’t shake the question of “Why Shakira?” I mean, I understand why. Obviously Shakira’s blonde yet shapely image, bilingual vocals, and cultural performances translate to many people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, so problem solved. However, why not showcase the South African group Freshly Ground a bit more? They are featuring in the song, after all, albeit for a brief moment. Robert Mackey of The New York Times Blog The Lede, recently wrote a small article HERE addressing the criticism coming from South Africa in regards to Shakira being tapped for Africa’s World Cup as opposed to an African artist. Mackey also discusses the Cameroonian origin of the “Waka Waka” track, particularly the chorus. Apparently, “the song’s chorus is ‘sampled from a Cameroonian song first recorded in 1986, called ‘Zangaléwa,’ that was hugely popular in Shakira’s native Colombia (not to mention all over Africa).’”

My good friend Dee was also able to clearly articulate another issue I was having with the song, especially in reference to the music video.

If anything, I feel like the “problem” with the song is not Shakira doing it…but on the “collapsible Africa” idea..the idea that the whole continent can be collapsed into a single entity, “Africa”, rather than being recognized as distinct cultures and nations with very distinct political agendas…

I really couldn’t have put it better myself. Think about it-when’s the last time a song was made about the entire continent of Europe, Asia, or South America? Sure, North America is different, because we have a smorgasbord of songs about America, but remember, unlike Africa, North America is a continent and a country. Africans have as much pride for their continent as they do for their respective countries and ethnicities, but each person has as much difference individually, culturally, and geographically (and every other social identifier imaginable) as those persons from other continents. The media loves to portray Africa as the land of Kumbaya, but that homogenous image of the naive, jubilant native is just as dangerous as the played out images of African as violent, corrupt, and disease-ridden. The comic pictured above sums up this Catch-22 dichotomy perfectly.

Basically, it’s that time again. The Africa Bandwagon has come around yet again and many are prepared to ride it ’til the wheels fall off. At the end of “Waka Waka (Time for Africa),” Shakira gently murmurs “We are all African.” Genetically, that may be so, but aside from that, it’s sure not the case. Because when the last vuvuzela blows in July, who’s going to be claiming as much? I guess there’s always (product) RED.

Miss Impeckable Recommendation: TED Talks

Now matter who you are or what you do, every now and then we all need a little inspiration. Something to reignite our desires, rekindle our drive, and fuel our creativity. Many times the simplest conversation can supply you with loads of motivation. It makes sense if you think about it. Talking is one of the main, natural modes of communicating information with others. The amount of information you are able to remember and the quality of information you receive ultimately depends on your ability to listen and the speaker of the information. Well, the folks over at TED, a small non-profit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading,” have managed to supply us with some of the greatest inspirational speakers ever. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Motivational speakers? Thank you, but no thank you, I’ll pass.But if you’ve ever watched a TED Talk, then you know that these speakers are not your average motivational speakers.

People from every field imaginable take the TED stage to deliver talks about any and everything, with subjects ranging from discussing paradox of choice, to nurturing of creativity, to figuring out “why we do what we do.” There’s even a spectacular TED Talk given about spaghetti sauce that will inspire you to achieve genuine happiness! Ever wanted some life advice from the likes of Jane Goodall, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Al Gore? Then please head HERE to TED Talk for an amazing dose of inspiration. Make sure to browse the site and check out a variety talks. A good starting place would be on the left column of the TED home page, where there’s a section where the talks are ordered by popularity, “jaw-droppingness”, most commented and so on. If you come across an awesome talk that you’d like to share with The Soul Model community then leave a comment and link to the video. Happy hunting!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story (one my favorites)

Andrew Mwenda: Let’s Take a New Look at African Aid (another favorite)

Gary Vaynerchuk: Building Personal Brand Within the Social Media Landscape (another favorite)

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Evelyn Glennie: How to Listen to Music with Your Whole Body

Miss Impeckable’s 2010 Summer Reading List

Cape Town, Bermuda, the French Riviera, Miami-they’re all excellent vacation spots, but they’re also super expensivevacation spots. So, what’s a girl to do when she wants to get away for a week or two? Well, reading can provide you with an opportunity to get away without spending a penny on travel or hotel costs. If you’re a middle school or high school student, then you most likely have required summer reading anyways, so why not take advantage of the assignment by learning about new cultures and new authors? Of course, there’s also those working professionals who no longer attend school, but are still eager to lose themselves in a great story during the commute to and from work.

Yet finding dynamic books for young women of color proves to be a difficult task. While one’s race should not relegate one to a particular subject or genre of books, relating to and identifying with the subject matter and the characters in a book can really make a lasting impression on the reader. And let’s be honest, how many of the books on your summer reading lists have you ever really ever found yourself able to identify with? If you’ve found yourself searching for those books, but have only been able to come up with the “tokens” (i.e. The Bluest Eye, Why The Caged Bird Sings, The Secret Life of Bees, etc-all great, but where’s the variety?), rest assured-The Soul Model has got you covered!

After a few days of reaching out to my friends and family, I’ve compiled an awesome list of diverse reading suggestions for the summer season. All of these books are certainly substantial in terms of literary quality and their content is certainly dynamic and engaging at every age. Most of these titles are available at your local library, but some may not, so be sure to check out Amazon and other online book stores. You could always hit up STRAND bookstore if you’re in NYC or, if you’re from a small town, that mysterious, little used bookstore that you’ve been curiously eyeing for a minute now. You’d be surprised what gems are found in the least likely places!

The Soul Model 2010 Summer Reading List

Zenzele: A Letter for my Daughter by J. Nozipo Maraire

The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin

The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

What Looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage

Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta

Stone Virgins by Yvonne Vera

Reflections of a Black-Eyed Squint by Ama Ata Aidoo

A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer

Coffee Will Make You Black by April Sinclair

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer

Kindred by Octavia Butler

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Daghabremba

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

Purple Hibiscus by by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana

Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor

Betsey Brown by Ntozake Shange

Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo: A Novel by Ntozake Shange

Sula by Toni Morrison

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Commencement by Courtney Sullivan

Value in the Valley by Iyanla Vanzant

Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde

Feel free to add more suggestions  and your own reviews in the comment section!

Miss Impeckable Recommendation: The Business of Being Born

Please disregard the creepiness of this photo.

If you are a woman and ever plan on giving birth, then you must watch this documentary. Aside from being an overall inspiring film about the empowering process of being pregnant, this film provides viewers with crucial information in regards to the scary history of child birthing in hospitals, the misconstrued  images of child birth in popular culture and the media, and the often unmentioned role of the midwife. Definitely check this movie out. It’s an instant watch for all you Netflix members out there.

Reminder: Father’s Day is Around the Corner

This day means different things to different people, but I just thought that I’d share this beautiful picture with you all. From the baby, to the fathers face, and the fact that he’s slung his child right next to him, it’s pretty much my perfect Father’s Day card. What do you think?