16 Search results for "speculative"

by Dr. Chaz Barracks In the early 2000s, as a little Black boy with ‘two much sugar’, I received my first durag from my favorite cousin’s boyfriend. While babysitting me, just him and me in the house, it was a rare occasion to be alone without any other kids around; he gave me a fresh […]

by Dr. Ravynn K. Stringfield Social media is currently flooded with messages from people encouraging others online to “get into print media” or “go analog,” while simultaneously bemoaning the loss of politically aware print media that centered marginalized voices—RIP Bitch Media—and a dearth of media that represent our experiences. However, for Black artists, writers and […]

by Bryson Scott Check out the amazing and imaginative art work of Bryson Scott. Ancestral Backturn We encounter a figure turned away from us—unbothered, unwavering. Clothed in a green kimono with traditional patterns, crowned by a natural halo of hair, and framed by a serene lunar glow, this piece speaks of quiet strength. It’s a […]

  by Julia Mallory “…but in them days they wasn’t no time for mournin.’ ” —Mary Reynolds, Texas Slave Narratives Volume XVI Part III Juneteenth began as a day of celebration commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1866. Since then, it has offered Black folks an opportunity to remember […]

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and as usual it’s got me reflecting on how utterly diabolical consumerist culture is, how it influences and perpetuates our constant need to measure who is most worthy of love, affection and gifts. And why we think it is our business to begin with. It also has me deeply bitter about […]

By Deria Matthews “The university was not created to save my life. The university is not about the preservation of a bright brown body. The university will use me alive and use me dead. The university does not intend to love me. The university does not know how to love me. The university in fact, […]

I hated summer reading lists growing up — hate is a strong word, but it’s honest.

Blerd City Con is coming to New York from July 13-15! The three-day conference will host multiple Sci-fi/Horror/Fantasy workshops, screenings, book readings, panels and more!

As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has hired Kamil Oshundara as a “cultural executive,” a move rarely seen in the movie industry. Oshundara’s responsibilities include academic and cultural research to be woven into character development and storylines. Her work will also include what Hollywood Reporter terms “deep diving” into genre material in order […]

According to a report from Jacobin, Wall Street is attempting to squeeze every last dime out of Puerto Rico that it can while using what Jacobin reporter Lara Merling calls “indefensible” cuts to public servants of Puerto Rico. The conservative leaning Wall Street Journal tastelessly referred to Puerto Rico’s debt as the top performing bond investment […]

by Andrew Keahey Awards season is never much of a shining time for creatives of color. It’s consistently a celebration of white achievement while Black excellence and other visionaries of color are routinely ignored in favor of the same tropes and story telling devices that we’re used to seeing year after year. These tropes become […]

HBO has reportedly given a green light to the creators of Game of Thrones to produce a series about a fictional world where the Confederacy won the Civil War and slavery is still legal south of the Mason-Dixie line. The reactions to this idea have been strong, yet polarizing. HBO's official announcement for new series CONFEDERATE […]