With his insane beats; off-the-dome flows; and zany lyrics about street shenanigans, Jehovah’s Witnesses, American politics, and his auntie, RXK Nephew is like no rapper you’ve ever listened to before. I’m an underground junkie and can confidently say that Neph is starting a new era of rap. One with no concern about writing down lyrics… Continue reading Why You Should be Listening to RXK Nephew Right Now
Black Girl (1966) – On Ousmane Sembène Part 1
In part one of my series “On Ousmane Sembène”, I focus on Black Girl (1966), or La noire de…, Sembène’s first feature-length film. A gifted Senegalese writer, producer, and director—the “father of African film”—Ousmane Sembène is a name to know. His work centers on postcolonial Senegal, providing non-Francophones with a unique perspective on the lasting… Continue reading Black Girl (1966) – On Ousmane Sembène Part 1
Meatless Days (1989) – Sara Suleri
I was drawn to Sara Suleri’s Meatless Days for aesthetic reasons. I love the title of the autobiography. Is she a vegetarian? Why are the days meatless? I wanted to know more. Not only that, I love the image on the lilac-colored cover. One of Suleri’s dear sisters, Ifat, dressed in a gharara and holding… Continue reading Meatless Days (1989) – Sara Suleri
Schomburg Library (1987) – Jacob Lawrence
Schomburg Library is the first visual art I’ve seen depicting black and brown people poring over books, and it was love at first sight when I saw it during a visit to the Norton Museum of Art. My favorite characters in Schomburg Library are two (presumably) men. Specifically, the one hunched over and hugging what… Continue reading Schomburg Library (1987) – Jacob Lawrence
Una Marson – Life (1937)
Can a person be a hidden gem? If so, Una Marson is one. A Jamaican writer and producer, Marson was the first black woman to be employed by the BBC. Her radio program, Caribbean Voices, was broadcasted from London straight to the ears of West Indian listeners. Caribbean Voices provided one of the first spaces… Continue reading Una Marson – Life (1937)
Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing (1990) – Hélène Cixous
It is no exaggeration to call Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing by Hélène Cixous a small masterpiece. A slim and sprightly book, Cixous haunted me with her notions of death, dreams, and roots pertaining to the writing process. Three Steps felt like one long, much-needed, exhalation. I could cry over the way Cixous… Continue reading Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing (1990) – Hélène Cixous