Everyone can watch Ava DuVernay’s The 13th for free now.[OMG Blog]
Still, it really sucks that this week, of all weeks, is when The Help is the #1 movie on Netflix. Really, Netflix people?? [Just Jared]
K-Pop stans have been 100% amazing this week. [Dlisted]
Joshua Jackson got a haircut, hm. [LaineyGossip]
Revisiting the premiere of Can’t Hardly Wait.[Towleroad]
Michae Fassbender was in this mess too. [Pajiba]
Mayor Bill De Blasio continues to be the absolute worst. [Jezebel]
At least one Teen Mom has an easy coparenting situation. [Starcasm]
13th (which may be traumatic for POC and sexual assault survivors) is amazing. I put it off after reading about it and wish I’d just seen it immediately because it is GRIPPING. 90 minutes went by in a flash. And so much suddenly made sense.
I have yet to watch it. Or When They See Us. I find the subject matter of both to be incredibly triggering.
Subject not matter.
Jam, Valiantly Varnished was correct in her phrasing. Websters even uses this topic as their example. I believe Valiantly Varnished is a woman of color, and it seems a little odd to be correcting her grammar at this time (especially when no mistake was made).
From Webster:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subject%20matter
“Definition of subject matter : matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study
Examples of subject matter in a Sentence
I found the film’s subject matter to be quite disturbing. “
Yeah wtf @Jam why are you trying to correct that.
1. It’s correct
2. If you post here at all you know VV is a WOC
3. That makes me side eye your intentions HARD.
I tried to watch the 13th last night and as a white person the guilt/sadness was overwhelming. But I need to educate myself more and DO More and and will try again today. If anyone has suggestions for books/docs I would appreciate.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
I’m reading “so you want to talk about race” and its really well done. Its basically as if a black woman sits down with a white person and is like, “So, let’s talk. No you cant say the N word. this is what a microaggression is. No you don’t get to tell me what is and is not racist.” Some of the things are more obvious than others and some I already knew, but I’m still finding it interesting and enlightening.
It’s a bit denser, but Dog Whistle Politics is an excellent read. Its definitely written more like a political text and not as much for the masses, but it is really informative.
One of my favorite books is Walking with the Wind by John Lewis about his experiences in the 60s as part of the civil rights movement.
I have White Fragility next to read.
“Hood Feminism” is another book I would recommend
Mercy has also been made free to watch, so see it if you haven’t yet.
Here’s a list of books, movies, and podcasts:
https://www.straightontillmorning.net/2020/06/03/books-movies-and-podcasts-to-consume-for-better-anti-racist-work/
A book I’d tack onto these lists is Danielle McGuire’s “At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance–A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power,” which seeks to examine what black women were doing and experiencing during civil rights movements whose narratives are still predominated by the men of the time. Excellently written, and though the author is white, she goes out of her way to elevate the voices of the people she interviews and gives a very critical and blunt examination of how black women have been at the mercy of patriarchy with none of the protective benefits afforded to white women – while acknowledging how white femininity itself was weaponized against the black community, as well.
Fair warning that it can be a hard read if you’re a sexual assault survivor (I am not, but two of my family members are) because it examines very bluntly how rape was weaponized as a tool of institutional terrorism all throughout America’s history of race relations, but it is very much worth reading in my opinion. Probably one of the most impactful books I read during my college years.
Thank you for sharing the info about the 13th.
The film Just Mercy, about Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice Initiative, starring Michael B Jordan, is also available for free all month.
Thought we’d hear about Abby Lee Miller’s racism today.
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/06/05/abby-lee-miller-new-lifetime-dance-show-nixed-wake-racism-accusations/3159393001/
On a frivolous note, I have really needed a laugh and What We Do In The Shadows has been my weekly fix. This week’s was crazy, but my favorite so far involved the Bloody Mary chain email. Instant classic.
The email chain was great. I also loved Jackie Daytona so much. It’s a really hilarious show.
The 13th is watchable / easy to watch. I mean it’s hard and sad to watch that subject matter, there are some tragic death stories, but unlike many documentaries it’s not dry, you’ll be drawn in, and even if you have no previous knowledge you’ll be able to follow it easily. Similar In this way to Hasan Minajs Netflix show (minus the constant jokes.)
According to some IMDb reviews it should be defined as propaganda (though arguably for a good reason) not an (unbiased) documentary, as there are important issues ignored due to not supporting the narrative and apparently some incorrect statistics. Personally I am familiar with the subject just from reading “the root” website for a while and I was disappointed in “13th.” I was excited to watch it initially but it didn’t wow me or illuminate anything, because I felt like it had an agenda, did the research, presented bits and pieces of research, made weak connections, left it at that. Since the subject is not debatable maybe they thought it wasn’t necessary because no one would challenge it?! There is much more persuasive and thorough material on prison and Black issues on “the root,” especially anything by Michael Harriot who has an amazing unique writing style, I’ve learned a lot from his pieces. Disclaimer, I really love reading and barely watch a documentaries. maybe my expectations were just too high, but this was nominated for an Oscar so I expected it to be pretty solid and persuasive.
Just watch …. great.
It’s all about the for profit prison industrial complex which is supported by both the Republicans and Democrats.
If there was a paid toilet above Ronald Reagan’s grave we’d have no national debt.
Comment of the new millennium, Kamala. Thank you.
Long time reader, first time commenter. I’d sponsor a small scholarship for anyone who couldn’t afford the token fee for such a toilet.
I graduated from college (first degree) early in St Ronnie’s first administration. Yes, I am old.
The difference between my early college years and the conservative backlash of the next few years was so depressing. I felt so sorry for kids a few years younger than I that didn’t join in the by then prevailing Republican “worship of the a hole”. Not just RR, but the Republican ideal was what most would consider an obnoxious creep.
^ Seriously none.
Kamala, hilarious!!
Re-contextualizing Tucker Carlson’s fear mongering about the protesters:
https://youtu.be/QenIc7Z94rU
K-Pop stans save the day! 😉
I watched it last night. It was horrifying.
Something is still lodged in my solar plexus, not sure what it is.
I’m in Australia, am white, and see loads of casual racism and some overt racism. I’ve never tolerated it, but really only pull people up for using derogatory language/stereotypes. This documentary made me imagine how it must feel. How dangerous it is to be a person of colour and at the mercy of the police and powers that be.
I just finished watching it, wow what a searing look at the racist and corrupt system we have all been living under. It was such a gut punch but so necessary. We need to rebuild the system from the ground up