#Afro-Caribbean Characters

[tawnysoup]

SIFFRIN FLAT NOSE TRUTHERS WE WIN!!!!! WE HAVE WON!!!!!!

[ronovanwrites]

11 Questions with Russel Brooks, author of Jam Run!

11 Questions with Russel Brooks, author of Jam Run! #IARTG #Afro #Caribbean #Mystery #Thriller #BYNR @Bookgal

Synopsis: What if crying out for help made you a target? Within hours of arriving in Montego Bay, Eddie Barrow and his friend Corey Stephenson witness a gruesome murder outside a bar. When the victim’s sister reaches out for help, they learn of machinations to conceal foreign corporate corruption and a series of horrific sex crimes. However, Barrow and Stephenson’s commitment to solving the case…

[jackiequick]

— The Invisible Beauty OC

— “With all due respect sir, i have to work twice as hard to prove myself for just a bit of recognizing respect. I may not be as smart as the other men and women here but I know my value. I understand that much.”

-> Juliette Florence

Face Claim: Janelle Monáe

Full name: Juliette Florence Genesis Wilkes Wilson

Nicknames: Juliet, Flora, Flo, Fiona

Age: 28–32

Height: 5’3

Birthday: February 7, 1992 (Aquarius)

Relationship Status: Single

Occupation: Model, Actress, Secretary and Co-Navigator

Alias: Timeless beauty, The Model, Off-Line Agent

Appearance:

Florence has the timeless beauty of Janelle Monáe, with a striking presence that blends elegance with an adventurous spirit. Despite being from the 2000s, her fashion sense has evolved to match the modern era, seamlessly combining vintage charm with contemporary style. She tends to wear timeless clothes from her grandmother and mother from the 60s-70s, within her on her wardrobe now.

Standing at 5'0, she may be petite, but her confidence and determination make her a force to be reckoned with.

Personality: A Southern belle with a gentle heart, Juliette has a bark that's always thicker than her bite. She's a fast talker with a snarky edge, always ready with a quick-witted remark. Her mama always told her to be kind but to make sure everyone knows she tried her damn hardest at everything.

————

Powers and Abilities:

Invisibility: Juliet possesses the ability to turn invisible at will, allowing her to move undetected and evade danger when necessary. This power grants her a strategic advantage in both her personal and professional life, enabling her to navigate tricky situations with stealth and precision.

Teleportation: With the ability to teleport, Juliet can instantaneously transport herself from one location to another, covering vast distances in a matter of seconds. This skill comes in handy during her hectic schedule, allowing her to seamlessly juggle multiple commitments and obligations.

Force Shields: Juliet can generate force shields to protect herself and others from physical harm. These shields act as a barrier against external threats, providing a layer of defense in dangerous situations. Along with her ability to defend and hold her own, finding the strength to deepen her defenses.

————

— Backstory:

Juliet grew up in a small town, where she was always fascinated by the stories her grandmother told her about their heritage. Her interest in her roots led her to explore various artistic pursuits, including modeling and writing.

Like any artist, she wasn’t clear onto her goals in life, especially being a woman of color, she feared she wouldn’t get enough credit for her work. Especially due to the fact that she had zero experience whatsoever in the industry up to that point.

However she knew she wanted to model and dance like all the artists she loved to see on her tv screens. Such as Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and others. She enjoyed their music and the fact that theses fine women were able to dance, as well as model for the next generation to come.

Still, she went on to that path and made a move to Hollywood a couple of years later. She did small gigs here and there, modeling for companies who would take in any kind of role to be the face of their products and services. She danced around on stage at cafes and pay the bills at the restaurant she worked at, where dancers would perform for the guests.

She even performed and made friends with a couple of girls, being invited to events and introducing herself to the crowd.

In the late 2000s a Hollywood film project wanted to explore the concept of space exploration and the roles of people in NASA so they sent actors and actresses to be introduced to the field, Juliet Florence was picked to go along being someone who wanted to development her craft from model to actress at the time, she wanted a hands on approach to the world she would be playing on in the film industry.

So she allowed the freedom to explore the space program with a visitors perspective along with the others that day. However certain curiosity got the best of her, as she found herself looking through the window of an experimental act taking shape before her eyes. During the critical test launch, an unforeseen incident occurred.

A powerful temporal anomaly was unleashed blasting past the walls across the door hitting Juliet as she fell asleep on the ground from such a terrible hit. She woke up in the hospital in a daze surrounded by doctors who questioned her health status after the incident but felt fine.

Bleeding a little from the wound she was given from the impact and a mild headache but other than that she was alright. She remembers the blue light from the source of the blast being the last thing she saw as she rushed for safety before passing out.

She was sent back home a couple of days later where she then discovered her powers in the kitchen as she almost got a jump scare from the lighting storm outside and once she looked at the her reflection in the toaster, she saw she turned invisible for a split second then back to normal. She gasped in shock almost immediately stumbling on her own feet.

Over time she noticed her skin was softer and smoother almost instantly creating her timeless appearance, like she was using some kind of makeup product. Or if she was using a new set of coconut butter on her body to make it almost shine bright like a diamond.

She knew she couldn’t tell anyone at the time, especially thinking they might believe her to be seen as freak or worse. She wanted to continue her career as a dancer and actress, if someone found out that she affected by this…she might lose everything she worked for.

It was hard enough being an African American woman in Hollywood, but imagine being one who had some freaky abilities.

She would be screwed…

-----------

- The Unexpected Rise Of The Beauty 

After the incident at the NASA facility, Juliette Florence finds herself grappling with a new reality. Initially, she tries to dismiss the strange occurrences as figments of her imagination. The fleeting moments of invisibility and the odd sensations of teleportation, that appeared when she felt threatened—she chalks them up to stress and fatigue. 

But the doubts linger, casting a shadow over her already demanding start in Hollywood.

The Catalyst for Change

One late night, as she sits on her couch eating a fruit salad and flipping through channels, something catches her eye on the news. The screen displays rare footage captured on a phone of a tall, dark-skinned woman with bleach-white hair, commanding the forces of nature. The news anchor identifies her as Storm, a powerful mutant who uses her abilities to protect others. The sight of Storm—confident, unashamed, and using her powers for good—strikes a chord deep within Juliette.

For the first time since the incident, Juliette sees a reflection of herself in someone else. Storm's presence ignites a spark of hope and determination. If Storm can embrace her powers and use them to make a difference, perhaps Juliette can too.

Embracing the Unknown

The next morning, Juliette decides to face her fears head-on. She begins experimenting with her abilities in the safety of her home. Initially, it's a chaotic process filled with frustration, fear, and exhaustion. She practices teleporting from her living room to her backyard, learning to focus her mind on the target destination. She discovers that her invisibility is triggered by strong emotions—fear, frustration, and annoyance—and works on calming herself to control this power.

Each day, from Tuesday morning to Saturday afternoon, Juliette dedicates some time to understanding her abilities. She keeps a low profile, ensuring that no one outside her home learns about her powers. 

Despite the challenges, she persists, driven by the image of Storm and the realization that she, too, can harness her abilities.

Returning to Hollywood

After a while, Juliette returns to the movie studio. She realizes that the role she originally wanted no longer feels right. It's a painful reminder of the incident that changed her life. Instead, she speaks with her agent and decides to seek out roles that allow her more freedom to express herself—whether through singing, dancing, or acting in characters with depth and complexity.

Her determination pays off. She lands roles that not only showcase her talents but also allow her to draw on her newfound strength. Such as Iridessa in The Tinkerbell movies, Hidden Figures, Think Like A Man, Rio 2, Netflix’s Glass Onion, Bad Boys, and guest star in tv series.

Her performances gain a new layer of authenticity and power, captivating audiences and critics alike.

-------

Likes:

Fashion: Juliet has a passion for fashion, drawing inspiration from both vintage styles and contemporary trends. She enjoys experimenting with different looks and expressing herself through her wardrobe.

Music: A lover of music, Juliet finds solace and inspiration in various genres, from classic R&B and soul to modern pop and hip-hop. Music serves as a source of comfort and motivation for her.

Literature: Juliet has a deep appreciation for literature, particularly works that explore themes of identity, culture, and resilience. She enjoys immersing herself in books that provide insight and inspiration.

Dance: Juliet's background in dance fuels her love for movement and self-expression. Whether it's choreographing routines or hitting the dance floor with friends, she finds joy in the rhythm and energy of dance.

Dislikes:

Societal Expectations: Juliet harbors resentment towards societal expectations that seek to limit her authenticity and self-expression. She dislikes feeling pressured to conform to narrow standards of beauty and behavior.

Prejudice and Discrimination: Having experienced prejudice and discrimination firsthand, Juliet despises injustice in all its forms. She advocates for equality and inclusivity, using her platform to amplify marginalized voices.

Betrayal: Trust is important to Juliet, and she dislikes betrayal or deceit from those she holds dear. She values loyalty and honesty in her relationships and is quick to distance herself from those who betray her trust.

Friends and Family:

Grandmother: Juliet shares a close bond with her grandmother, who serves as a source of wisdom and guidance. Their relationship is rooted in love and mutual respect, with Juliet often seeking her grandmother's advice in times of need.

Close Friends: Juliet's circle of friends consists of fellow artists, activists, and creatives who share her values and passions. They provide support and camaraderie, standing by her side through the ups and downs of life in Hollywood.

Struggles with Powers/Roles:

Secrecy: Juliet grapples with the burden of keeping her powers a secret, fearing the repercussions if they were to be exposed. This constant vigilance adds stress to her already demanding career and personal life.

Identity Crisis: The juxtaposition of her public persona and her hidden abilities creates an internal conflict for Juliet, leading to moments of doubt and insecurity about her true self.

Balancing Act: Juliet struggles to balance her various roles and responsibilities, from her career as a model and actress to her advocacy work and personal relationships. Finding equilibrium amidst the chaos of her life proves challenging at times.

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

Who knows where Juliette will go next in her journey? Maybe she’ll meet the woman who inspired her to keep going. Perhaps she’ll take time off from Hollywood one day to explore this new side of her. 

The future is uncertain, and we can only wait and see.

///

~~~~

~~~~~

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope u guys like her!

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @missstrawbs2001 @t-nd-rfoot @yetanotherwells @sherloquestea @gcthvile @ohgodnotagainn @topgun-imagines @cherrysft @superspookyjanelle @xgoddessoffandomsx @rickb-chaos @ocappreciation @fototingobug @daughter-of-melpomene @savemewattpad

[sootyships]

the fact that yankee movies and shows consistently use not-even-light-haired people to play blonds and, like, targaryens, just honestly genuinely gets on my nerves.

like i love orlando bloom as legolas as much as the next person but for fuck's sake you'd have such an easier time if you actually used blonds???? it's not like blonds are cryptids?!?!?!?!?!?!

[officialhikariblog]

How should I go about writing my Afro-Caribbean Main Character Within the premise of My Fantasy Post Apocalyptic Story?

Hi! I’m a non POC, teen writer for a comic that hopefully will be coming out in the next few years! It’s been just me and a few friends “editing” my story (aka me just talking about it lol). I’ve been working on it since 2017, but mostly on the characters and tweaking the overall plot so it makes sense. And with this, I found that having my character being of this culture would make the most sense story wise. Personality wise, I’ve always based her off my best friend (who is of that ethnicity) and she has always been my biggest supporter and inspiration for so many of my characters. Sadly, I had to move away and no longer have contact with her, (and quite frankly she more than likely committed suicide) I want to do this character right in honor of her.

I’ve always done my best to research and learn about the cultures I’ll be exhibiting in my stories, however I want to be able to on a more personal level and understand more about what people of this culture want to be represented in, especially since my world build for it doesn’t actually include any real world countries.

What are some unknown stereotypes I should avoid?

What are some specific parts of your culture that you personally would love to see incorporated?

how should I go about cultural apriciation as a posed to appropriation in a world build that doesn’t include any actual real world countries?

How should I go about writing specific mannerisms that a white person wouldn’t understand?

What are some things you hate to see whenever you see a black character that’s obviously written by a white guy? How should I approach the subject of race and ethnicity in a society that has already been toppled by an external force? My main idea was to have the cause of the apocalypse represent the oppressive colonization that your culture has endured, but if this is too generic I can tweak it to be more culturally specific.

In all, I just really want to be able to make something that she could be proud of and be able to not let the help she gave me go to waste!

please tell me your opinion and if this could work for you, as well as your responses to my question! Please and Thank you!

all my hugs and kisses

Peachy<3

🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀

[lovely-cherubs]

Roseanne and Eli's Relationship Be Like:

[creatingblackcharacters]

This may be a dumb question but is there a difference between canerows and cornrows? Is one more correct to say, or is it literally just it depends on where you live? Just wanna make sure I say it right when describing a character's hairstyle. Thank you for all your work!

So I had a feeling that it was the same, that maybe cane would be like growing sugarcane, the way cornrows were like growing corn. And I was right! Apparently canerows is used by Black people in the Caribbean.

"Black hair culture in the Caribbean, UK, and US continues to be exploited by colonialism. Various different Black braiding styles are often lumped together in the West, and instead of knowing their individual names, they directly reference an enslaved past. Cane/cornrows are more significant of which crops the enslaved were forced to cultivate — sugar cane or corn — than the beautiful traditions of African and Black hair braiding. The symbolism in the generic use of "cane/cornrow" discourages people from accepting that Black identity and culture existed centuries before colonialism. It's impossible to move past the pain and prejudice of our ancestors until we unlearn and understand how it continues to shape our lives."

Idk if I'm gonna automatically stop calling them cornrows, but this definitely gives me a new perspective to check myself on (as well as the Yoruban term) for this hairstyle!

"As discovered in Don't Touch My Hair, the classic straight-back rows of hair braided closely to the scalp is called "kolese" in the Yoruba language, which means "a creature without legs", like a snail. "The name is one that centers the specific characteristics of Afro-textured hair and is in reference to the way our hair curls up at the nape of the neck when it is braided in this direction," writes Dabiri on Twitter. While kolese most closely resembles the classic straight back cane/cornrows, the general term for cane/cornrows in Nigeria is irun didi."

[kartonkartonski]

ONE PIECE Pirate AU

What if OP world had real pirate vibe / What if our 1700s had people strikingly similar to OP characters + magic

DISCLAIMER i have the opposite of Same Face Syndrom + cant draw women lol yes the faces are real human ispired

LUFFY - Brazilian / Caribbean kid from a random ass poor village Hat, vest, pants, sandals - made more historically accurate (mmha)

ZORO - Japanese but raised abroad in Turkey or sth idk Hair - green hair dont exist lol Shirt, pants, boots - mmha Eyepatch - a piratey touch

NAMI - Swedish but adopted and raised in Spain or Italy or idk Clothes - mmha + made her more tomboyish Head cloth - piratey touch

USOPP - Italian mum + African father (unthinkable!) (european colonies in South Africa or sth) Clothes mmha The prankster he is, he carries fake prosthetic hook and peg leg and a fake swordsheath. I bet he has a fake parrot and an eyepatch he doesnt use. The gun is real and replaces slingshot

SANJI - French cook in the Mediterrenean Eyebrows - curly eyebrows dont exest stupid Hair - mmha Suit - mmha Cigs - replaced with a pipe Golden tooth - he got scurvy on that stranded island

CHOPPER - Canadian reindeer (caribou) General look - now he look like a real reindeer huh. No wonder why he was feared by the peeps Hat - early american settler-like Pants - mmha + piratey stripes

NICO - Russian originally associated with mafiozo Krokodil The dress is how i imagine her to dress like when working with Krokodil Hat, boots - mmha + more piratey Riding suit - she looked like cowboy in early OP so i gave her riding clothes

FRANKY - American, self-made clockwork cyborg who uses word "super" quite often (it was a thing in early 1700s!) Hair - Cyan hair dont exist idiot + made it cool and epic for 1700 standards Metal nose - screwed to skull Shirt - mmha Underwear - yes its underwear mmha Robo parts - clockwork coz no steam engines back then + wooden doll-looking Peg leg - hides a gun

BROOK - Austrian musician, his crew died hit by a plague Hat - mmha Afro - no afro in 1600-1700 sorry Justacorps - 1600s-ish coz he old af Yohoho

JIMBEE - Now a real FISHman, a real WHALESHARK and a real INDIAN (Oda said hes indian) yup thats about that FOLLOW FOR MORE

[tiredmagicalwarrior]

I think one of the things I appreciated the most about Nocturne was the protagonism on the Haitian Revolution.

This was a revolution that didn't just change Haiti, it changed the world. This was the revolution that would make the first black state. The first slaveless state. That would make every slave nation tremble with fear, from Europe To America to Asia to Oceania to Africa. It was what was never meant to happen, but did.

It's the nation that would defeat Napoleon and the British marine. Nobody could take down Haiti. You know why Napoleon went to colonize Europe? Haiti. That's why. He couldn't take down Haiti. Couldn't make it french territory again. So, he turned towards Europe.

We are talking about an undefeated nation.

AND! AND! A largely Vodu nation!

I was SO happy to see Vodu be portrayed as the wonderful religion it is, sacred and divinely intertwined with the Haitian revolution. The revolution was noted to start with Vodu chants and ritual.

White people refused to understand the link between the two worlds that could bring ancestors to meet their descendants. They created zombies as a horror trope. They made vodu dolls as a horror gimmick. They took a sacred religion and reduced it and vilanized it.

And I'm so happy to see it being positively portrayed in such a famous media. Vodu practicioners have already made media of the like. But I was positively surprised with what Nocturne had to present to us.

Of course, the knowledge that the french revolution was incomplete, that it was NOT FOR EVERYONE, is then again, something I really appreciate as a history student and a person. The french revolution killed mostly peasent and established the bourgeoisie, but did it end the Noir Code? No. Did it establish women's and black people's suffrage? No. Did it make a agrarian reform? No. Was it for the people? It had it's importance. But it was, at the very least, not for all the people.

And let's not forget that the french revolution's main intellectual current would birth biological racism, an unscientific current that claimed evidence of "different sized skulls" for example to prove humans possessed different races based on phenotypes.

Last, but certainly not least: it is absurd to see people claim that "all indigenous people have been killed". Acknowledging multi-ethnic indigenous genocide HAS to go along with the respect that there STILL are indigenous people and they continue their fight for their lives and land.

You know who the show demonstrates as such? Olrox.

While I don't appreciate the show claiming "all of his people were slaughtered" as that is historically inaccurate, I was most happy to see an Aztec vampire present and very alive, connected to his culture, protagonizing the show. The Nahua are still very much alive and kicking and I appreciated that the show took that into account.

And Annette! Sweet Annette being one of the leads makes me most joyful. I can't stand idiots that claim her presence.on France was """historically innacurate""", check again, dumbasses, free black people were all over France (especially the children of black Caribbean elites, for example, from Haiti back then known as Saint-Domingue, which did not possess universities and would sent their children to study in Europe.)

Anyway. To see her star as one of the leads made me so incredibly happy. She's a wonderful character and I appreciate how they let Annette be unapologetic and direct, especially during a moment between revolutions were she was very aware the french revolution didn't mean shit to her people.

But she was so lovely and to see her afro-caribean religion present AND source of her power made me emotional more than a few times.

Castlevania Nocturne really did hit this nail on the head.

Anyways. To make sure I give people answers to "but where's the evidence to x thing you said?" Here are my sources:

THYLEFORS, Markel; “Our Government is in Bwa Kayiman:”A Vodou Ceremony in 1791 and its Contemporary Significations, 2009

DUBOIS, Laurent; Avengers of the New World : the story of the Haitian Revolution, 2004

BUCK-MORSS, Susan; Hegel, Haiti and universal history, 2009

[kookies2000]

Because I feel like it.

Yellow sky? Bare footed characters? Mostly a mess? Over exaggerating some of the Hispanic features. I saw the first episode, and it was just poorly written in general. And what mother calls their son "cochinada." Roughly translates to dirty or trash.

What's good Latino/Hispanic representation?

Colombian 🇨🇴

In the Caribbean region of Colombia, they light up candles and lanterns on December 8, before sunrise. So the candle giving them magic was a wonderful detail. Generational trauma is a thing for us Latinos, and this film handled it in a healthy and matuer manner. And I love how they didn't shy away with how Spaniards attacked and colonized latin lands.

Mexicans 🇲🇽

Yes, us Mexicans love death. 🤣 But hey, I was always taught to respect death, La Muerte, and our ancestors. So, it makes sense that many Mexican films talk about death. But I also like that Maya and the Three have Aztec, Mayan, and Incan mythology. Natives to Mexico.

Dominican Puerto Rican 🇩🇴🇵🇷

Luz mom is Dominican, and Luz dad is Puerto Rican. I appreciate a good interracial couple and a mixed child. Luz name also translates to light, and some Latinos are known for doing witch craft. Or at least knowledgeable about witches and demons, and no, we aren't evil. We just know how to handle this stuff. Plus, the owl has many meanings in Latino culture. To some, I believe the owl is a messenger of death and is telling everyone that death/danger is near.

Afro Latino. Puerto Rican 🇵🇷

I am a massive sucker for interracial couples and mixed kids because of this. I was working at a hispanic store as a cashier. This woman walks past me and starts talking to the bagger. The bagger has blond hair, blue eyes, and white skin. The bagger looks at me worried because she doesn't speak English. So brown skin, black hair, me has to tell the bagger that the lady wanted ice in Spanish. I then talked to the lady in English. Her reaction? "YOU SPEAK ENGLISH!" Same for a dark skinned man. So many people skip me and talk to him in English. He's Dominican, and he only spoke Spanish. I appreciate films that show Latinos in different skin types and features. We're not all brown. So yeah, the mass diversity in this film is just beautiful. And I love how they wrote Miles relationship with his parents. Realistic conflict and healthy communication. Not falling into toxic stereotypes.

Spainard Puss 🇪🇸 Mexican Kitty & Perrito 🇲🇽

Spaniards are considered Hispanic but not Latinos like Mexicans. And again, interracial couples for the win. And I love the realism in their romance that heals through healthy therapy. Many people see Mexicans as toxic, so having Perrito as a therapist and the one helping everyone emotionally, it's nice. Not every Mexican is toxic. And I love how you can tell their Spanish and Mexican even though their animals. Puss Spanish accent, Spanish actor, him being a ginger like some Spaniards, flamingo dancing, and gazpacho. Kitty, Mexican accent, Mexican actress, black fur/hair like most Mexicans, quinceañera, and I love how they gave her a luchador mask. Something that originates from Mexico. Also, my brother and I joke how we as Mexiacns can't swim and Kitty nearky drowns in the 1st film. 🤣 Perrito, he's a chihuahua with a Mexican actor. Enough said. I also want to say death is Brazilian because of his actor.

I don't know much about Spanish culture, but someone said the wishing star has a connection to Spanish culture. Is that true? If so, COOL! Because death is connected to Mexican culture. So, Dreamworks finding a way to combine Spanish and Mexican culture in one film is 100% magical.

There are many more, like Beverly Hills Chihuahua 🇲🇽. 🤣 That film is better than Primos. Emperor's New Groove, Peru 🇵🇪, and Rio, Brazil 🇧🇷. Not Hispanic but Latino culture. But this post is getting long. Primos! A huge step down in Latino/Hispanic representation. Especially since we have so many good films and shows that have proper representation.

[rooksamoris]

hoyoverse: here’s a character inspired by afro-caribbean deities that are worshipped in west africa and south america because the slave trade created a mixing of religions (as seen in cuba with santeria being directly tied to yoruba and influenced by roman catholicism as well as what remained of indigenous religion after colonization)

their skin color: ⚪️

hoyoverse: here’s two female characters based off of rulers and warriors from africa, one being meroitic (sudan) and the other being amazigh (north africa). each of them were known for not only their strength but the way in which they ruled and protected their lands from invaders. one of them then literally has colored depictions of herself from ancient meroe

hoyoverse: they get whitewash and the belly dancer outfit/barbaric mercenary treatment

[specialagentartemis]

Black Women writing SFF

The post about Octavia Butler also made me think about the injustice we do both Butler, SFF readers, and Black women SFF writers by holding her up as the one Black Woman Writing Sci-Fi. She occupies an important place in the genre, for her creativity, the beauty and impact of her writing, and her prolific work... but she's still just one writer, and no one writer works for everybody.

So whether you liked Octavia Butler's books or didn't, here are some of the (many!!! this list is just the authors I've read and liked, or been recommended and been wanting to read) other Black women writing speculative fiction aimed at adults, who might be writing something within your interest:

N. K. Jemisin - a prolific powerhouse of modern sff. Will probably have something you'll like. Won three Hugo awards in a row for her Broken Earth trilogy. I’ve only read her book of short stories, How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? and it is absolutely story after story of bangers. Creative, chilling, beautifully written, make you think. They’re so good and I highly recommend the collection. Several of her novels have spun out of premises she first explored through these short stories, most recently “The City Born Great” giving rise to her novel The City We Became. Leans more fantasy than sci-fi, but has a lot of both, in various permutations. 

Nisi Shawl - EDIT: I have been informed that Nisi Shawl identifies as genderfluid, not as a woman. They primarily write short stories that lean literary. Their one novel that I’ve read, Everfair, is an alternate-history 19th century that asks, what if the Congo had fought off European colonization and became a free and independent African state? Told in vignettes spanning decades of political organization, political movements, war tactics, and social development, among an ensemble of local African people, Black Americans coming to the new country, white and mixed-race Brits, and Chinese immigrants who came as British laborers.

Nnedi Okorafor - American-Nigerian writer of Africanfuturism, sci-fi stories emphasizing life in present, future, and alternate-magical Africa. She has range! From Binti, a trilogy of novellas about a teenage girl in Namibia encountering aliens and balancing her newfound connection to space with expectations of her family; to Akata Witch, a middle-grade series about a Nigerian-American girl moving to Nigeria and learning to use magic powers she didn’t know she had; to Who Fears Death, a brutal depiction of magical-realism in a futuristic, post-war Sudan; to short stories like "Africanfuturism 419", about that poor Nigerian prince who’s desperately sending out those emails looking for help (but with a sci-fi twist), and "Mother of Invention" about a smart house taking care of its human and her baby… she’s done a little bit of everything, but always emphasizes the future, the science, and the magic of (usually western) Africa.

Karen Lord - an Afro-Caribbean author.  I actually didn’t particularly like the one novel by her I’ve read, The Best of All Possible Worlds, but Martha Wells did, so. Lord has more novels set in this world—a Star Trek-esque multicultural, multispecies spacefuture set on a planet that has welcomed immigrants and refugees for a long time, and become a vibrant multicultural planet. I find her stories rooted in near-future Caribbean socio-climatic concerns like "Haven" and "Cities of the Sun" and her folktale-fantasy style Redemption in Indigo more compelling.  And more short stories here.

Bethany C. Morrow - only has one novella (short novel?) for adults, Mem, but it was creative and fascinating and good and I’d be remiss not to shout it out. In an alternate-history 1920s Toronto, scientists have discovered how to extract specific memories from a person—but then those memories are embodied as physical, cloned manifestations of the person at the moment the memory was made. The main character is one such “Mem,” struggling to determine who she is if she was created from and defined by one single traumatic memory that her original-self wanted to remove. It’s mostly quiet, contemplative, and very interesting.  (Morrow has some YA novels too. I read one of them and thought it was okay.)

Rebecca Roanhorse - Afro-Indigenous, Black and "Spanish Indian" and married into Diné (Navajo). I’ve read her ongoing post-apocalyptic fantasy series starting with Trail of Lightning, and am liking it a lot; after a climate catastrophe, the spirits and magic of the Diné awakened to protect Dinetah (the Navajo Nation) from the onslaught; and now magic and monsters are part of life in this fundamentally changed world. Coyote is there and he is only sometimes helpful. She also has a more traditional second-world epic high fantasy, Black Sun, an elaborate fantasy world with quests and prophecies and seafaring adventure that draws inspiration from Indigenous cultures of the US and Mexico rather than Europe. She also has bitingly satirical and very incisive short stories like “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience” about virtual reality and cultural tourism, and the fantasy-horror "Harvest."

Micaiah Johnson - her multiverse-hopping novel The Space Between Worlds plays with alternate universes and alternate selves in a continuously creative and interesting way! The setup doesn’t take the easy premise that one universe is our own recognizable one that opens up onto strange alternate universes—even the main character’s home universe is wildly different in speculative ways, with the MC coming from a Mad Max-esque desert community abandoned to the elements, while working for the universe-travel company within the climate-controlled walled city where the rich and well-connected live and work. Also, it’s unabashedly gay. 

And if you like audiobooks and audio fiction (I listened to The Space Between Worlds as an audiobook, it’s good), then Jordan Cobb is someone you should check out. She does sci-fi/horror/thriller audio drama. Her works include Janus Descending, a lyrical and eerie sci-fi horror about a small research expedition to a distant planet and how it went so, so wrong; and Descendants, the sequel about its aftermath. She also has Primordial Deep, about a research expedition to the deep undersea, to investigate the apparent re-emergence of a lot of extinct prehistoric sea creatures. She’s a writer/producer I like, and always follow her new releases. Her detailed prose, minimal casts  (especially in Janus Descending), good audio quality, and full-series supercuts make these welcoming to audiobook fans. 

-

Nalo Hopkinson - a writer who should be considered nearly as foundational as Octavia Butler, honestly. A novelist and short story writer with a wide variety of sci-fi, dystopian futures, fairy-tale horror, gods and epics, and space Carnival, drawing heavily from her Caribbean experiences and aesthetics.

Tananarive Due - fantastical/horror. Immortals, vampires, curses, altered reality, unnerving mystery. Also has written a lot of books.

Andrea Hairston - creative and otherworldly, weird and bisexual, with mindscapes and magic and aliens. 

Helen Oyeyemi - I haven’t read her work but she comes highly recommended by a friend. A novelist and short story writer, most of her work leans fairytale fantastical-horror. What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is a collection of short fiction and recc’ed to me as her best work. White is for Witching is a well-regarded haunted house novel. 

Ashia Monet - indie author, writer of The Black Veins, pitched as “the no-love-interest, found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” Magic road trip! Possibly YA? I’m not positive. 

-

This also doesn’t include Black non-binary sff authors I’ve read and liked like An Owomoyela, C. L. Polk, and Rivers Solomon. And this is specifically about adult sff books, so I didn’t include Black women YA sff authors like Kalynn Bayron, Tomi Adeyemi, Tracy Deonn, Justina Ireland, or Alechia Dow, though they’re writing fantasy and sci-fi in the YA world too.

And a lot of short stories are out there in the online magazine world, where so many up and coming authors get their start, and established ones explore offbeat and new ideas.  Pick up an issue (or a subscription!) of FIYAH magazine for the most current Black speculative writing.

[maryonmega]

My little series grows!

After eight chapters and quite a bit of inner debate, I finally decided what breed is Pawfrin’s cat form: an albino sand cat (the black parts are from the pre wish dye job and are growing out)

Hear me out:

* Found in North Africa and Southwest and Central Asia – Siffrin is confirmed to have some degree of afro-caribbean traits

* Adapted for temperature spikes – just like Siffrin’s cloak makes him

* A typically wild breed – Siffrin is a rogue-type character

* Small and rare to spot – self explanatory

* Kitty-ish enough to be mistaken for a house cat, regornizable enough to be identified at a glance, specially by someone as fixated as the King.

The only possible bummer is the size, but, we can say that the Universe allowed him to be on the bigger side in his cat form, as a treat. Fantasy french/japanese friends don't know 5 pounds is normal and made sure he wouldn't be any lighter than 7.

[dust-jacket-analysis]

There's a lot of discourse going on over on TikTok right now regarding Booktok. And as an avid reader, Booktok watcher, and someone who has a deep love for analyzing the media I enjoy, I'd feel remis if I didn't get my thoughts out there.

I know these particular posts never got much engagement when I posted on my old account, but if I could please just have a bit of your time. This is all apart of a larger subject of which I'm extremely passionate on.

Four days ago Booktoker @bookishwithb aka, Celine, posted a video. In that video she talked about the rise of anti-intellectualism, specifically on booktok. She addresses the way books are "marketed" or presented on booktok, and also how that has an impact on the publishing industry.

Her main talking point was how a lot of books are being recommended based on what tropes are in them. More specifically, reduced based on those tropes. Her example being the Poppy War, by R.F Kuang.

She talked about how she's seen it marketed as a book with "a strong female main character." And how infuriating that was to her. She went on to explain how there was so much more to the book and how it was about war, and trauma, and how dark and deep and impactful it is. I highly recommend this video to anyone interested. Because while controversial it says a lot about the "tropeification" of media (which will probably be a post by me sometime in the future).

And as is the ways of the internet, this sparked something huge.

So many different creators responded to her video. Some agreeing, most disagreeing. There's been outrage, and healthy debate. But mainly (and most importantly) conversation. Everyone throwing their two cents in, people defending the right to read what you want how you want.

And since the original video went up, this conversation has taken on a life of it's own. It's now become about reading for fun Vs. reading for analysis.

Many argue that it doesn't matter why people read, or how. Just that they are. Others argue it's a sign of a bigger issue that readers no longer engage in the story's their reading.

I have my own opinions. I agree with both sides on certain things, and am overall enjoying the discussions. But, as always, I have things to say.

There are some books that, while entertaining and a fun read, have no substance per say. No analytical value. I think a lot of those three-hundred page medium spice romance books you find on a table at Barnes and Noble fall under this category.

Now, I really love reading those books. Their quick easy reads that keep me entertained. But, they really cannot be analyzed past surface level. Very much not a time to try and think critically.

Those are the books I read for escapism. When I just want to decompress and turn off my brain. Or make a long car ride pass by quickly. And that's okay. Yes? Because it's still reading. I am still gaining something from it. Physiological benefits, it's encouraging and strengthening my empathy. I am still (in some cases) increasing my Lexile, and keeping my brain working. Which is amazing.

Other times I read things with very high analytical value. Such as High Fantasy Novels with social commentary reflecting our world. Or Dystopia packed full with metaphor, allegory, and symbolism. Or even my most recent read for college: Brown Girl In The Ring, by Nalo Hopkinson. An amazing book commenting on the suburban sprawl, and urban decay. Sprinkled with magical realism regarding Afro-Caribbean culture, and even mentions of Romani practices such as Tarot.

These are books I read knowing I need to turn on the part of my brain that's very analytical. That enjoys breaking things down in that way. Storylines I have to engage with on an additional level, otherwise I miss the entire point of this story. It's not only important, but necessary.

So, yes. Reading is reading, now matter what. And any reading is better than no reading. And we should foster that mindset, especially amongst younger generations. But, that doesn't mean you should never engage critically with a book or show or movie you're consuming. Because some media requires that for a base level understanding. And saying that doesn't make me elitist. Or pretentious or judgmental or a snob. Because it's really just true.

I've seen a lot of creators bring up the literacy crisis in youth, specifically in my country (America). How many kids can't read at a level they should be in elementary schools. Even in Highschool. And that we really should all just be content there's an entire community at least reading at all. That we should encourage any and all reading.

And to that I say... yes, but no.

Because here's the thing. There is in the most literal sense, a literacy crisis. The kid's can't read. And it is absolutely devastating. As someone who grew up devouring books every week, reading three grades above my own, it's soul crushing. So I do think reading should be more pushed and encouraged. In school, in the home, everywhere. As much as possible and appropriate for children. Any and all.

But, there's also another literacy crisis. A Media literacy crisis.

Media literacy, the ability to critically analyze and engage with media, is at an all time low. According to a survey done by Media Literacy Now and, the Reboot Foundation, 42% of respondents were taught how to analyze media. Let that sink in. 42%. That's less than half the people who participated in the survey.

(More statistics generated by AI with the following prompt: Give me reliable statistics regarding media literacy in terms of books/reading:

A Survey done by the National Endowment for the Humanities states 65% of adults have low literary skills when it comes to reading comprehension, critical thinking, and expression.

Pew research conducted a survey with resulted in 57% America adults having read at least one book in the last year. With 26% American adults not having read any form of book in the past year. Including audio books.

The American Library Association has said that the average American only reads four books per year. And more developed countries only have average citizens at ten books a year.

An Survey done by Reading Partners has said that 1 and 4 children read at a below basic level by the end of 4th grade.)

And we see this sentiment echoes all over the internet. Constantly videos are made with people talking about how they were never taught Media literacy, and their should be a class all about just that (Which... I have thoughts on. Again, another post).

Even though you can (rightly) argue that this skill was taught. In English class. That's not the point. The point is that people cannot only not read, but most young adults and fully grown adults cannot read critically. Cannot, will not, and aren't.

And in some cases it's because they don't and still don't have the resources. But these statistics aren't just minorities, people in poverty. These surveys and statistics cover people from every walk of life. Poor, Rich, White, Black, Asian, Hispanic. Queer, Straight, Trans, Cis. All ethnicities, wealth brackets, identities. Every demographic. It's indictive of a larger issue.

So we should encourage reading for fun. Reading to read. Reading for escapism. Reading of every kind. But, to claim that there isn't an issue? To trample creators addressing these issues with insults? To claim it's them being pretentious, snobby, elitest, Privileged etc.? That's feeding the issue.

Recently my friend recommended me a video essay, which I unfortunately can't find (Will edit the title when I can).

But in that video, my friend told me that the creator says something... so insightful. She defines stupid as this: Not a lack of knowledge, but the unwillingness to accept new knowledge.

Which is just... such a perfect way to look at it.

You aren't "stupid" for not knowing how to think critically. For not having learned to analyze media, and for not having the resources to do so. But if you have the resources, have the ability to learn how, and you don't/refuse? That makes you stupid.

And by burying your head in the sand and claiming that there is no issue, by hiding behind pseudo offense and that claims of judgement, you're being stupid.

Don't be outraged that the creator of the video that started this all. Don't feel "called out" or judged. Don't put words in her mouth. She wasn't saying people cannot read for enjoyment. She was simply pointing out a larger issue.

--------------------------------------------

To end this very long and tedious post, I'd like to provide a couple of videos in order to help improve Media Literacy! Just some videos I've watched that I found helpful (Also if you just go on youtube and search up "how to analyze..." you'll find so much more)

Crash Course Media Literacy: A playlist series that breaks down media literacy and the history of media as a whole.

How to analyze a Book- 101: This video gives techniques on how to better understand what you're reading, and how to find the main themes and organize them. It gives tips and processes.

How to Read (and Understand) Hard Books: This video breaks down the three types of reading and even gives book recommendations that touch on that.

A beginner's guide to Critical Literary Analysis: This video is made by fellow tumblr user @bluemooniegif (One of us ✊One of us✊). A very good video for beginners. They literally opens the video telling the viewer you don't need any prior knowledge. They also has another video on her channel, which is just the next step up from this one! It's super great, and perfect if you're younger or have less of an understanding on any of this.

Diving into and developing media literacy skills takes effort. It's not a skill you can gain over night, and requires time. But, if you're willing to take that time, a whole new world opens up to you. And you begin to look at everything through a whole new light.

[kiyzeiin]

So you already discussed your hc for Luffy's ethnicity but what about the rest of the crew?

great question, i’ve been pondering about this for a while, it’s just when i saw luffy, i just knew he was my pasifika cousin 😭 i have reference sheets w all their hcs i’m working on to post later but let me go ahead n lay out rq how i would imagine the strawhats! i try to be as canon compliant as possible when assigning them.

usopp - afro-caribbean, specifically jamaican 🇯🇲

luffy - indigenous on both sides. so afro native samoan-brazilian. i stand by that forever. polynesian luffy real 🇼🇸🇧🇷. malagasy too. historically malagasy people are austronesian relatives as well anyway (malayo-polynesian) 🇲🇬

nami - thai-swedish. she’s ethnically fully thai, but when bellmere found her and nojiko, she took them to her hometown in sweden to be raised. im a firm believer in southeast asian nami 🇹🇭🇸🇪

zoro - afro japanese-caribbean. been a blasian zoro truther since day one. so japanese and haitian 🇯🇵🇭🇹

robin - double native as well !! native costa rican, the bribri people, and indigenous to eastern russia, yupik. she’s a challenge to figure out but i just know this is a native woman. 🇨🇷🇷🇺

jimbei - melanesian cousin fijian-indian !!! 🇫🇯🇮🇳

franky - italian american. only fueled by how water 7 is allegedly based on venice 🇮🇹🇺🇸 but also consider panamanian franky …🇵🇦 exactly. so he’s either panamanian or italian american to me

brook - afro-austrian ethiopian. an ethnically east african black man from austria(i also get new orleanian from him IF he were american)🇪🇹🇦🇹

chopper - if he were a human, indigenous canadian first nation (inuk) absolutely 🇨🇦

vivi - nubian and sudanese vivi on top !!! 🇪🇬 🇸🇩

sanji - french ……… 🇫🇷

i have headcanons for ace, sabo, dadan and some other characters too but this post is getting really long. to be continued !

[lovely-cherubs]

Marshmallowsona #1: Roseanne Guillaume Villanueva

Visual/Concept Board:

Personal Information:

Name: Roseanne “Amora” Guillaume Villanueva (Full Name)

Aliases: Amora Angélique/ AmorAngélique (Online/YouTuber Name)

Age: 23 (Crush Crush), 18 (Hush Hush)

Gender: Female

Eye Color: Brown

Race: Black/African, Latina

Nationality: Dominican 🇩🇴

Ethnic Background: Haitian, Dominican, Eritrean (🇭🇹🇩🇴🇪🇷)

Relatives: Asmarina Guillaume (mom), Ricardo Villanueva (dad)

Birthday: August 10th

Place of Birth: Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Height: 5'7"

Hobby: Watching Anime, Reading Manga, Playing Video Games, Collecting Antique Dolls & Figurines and rare things in general, etc.

Blood Type: O+

Favorite Food: Pate Kòde, Haitian Spaghetti, Haitian Patties, Diri Blan ak Sos Pwason

Neurodivergent Label(s): ADHD (inattentive form), Autism (ASD), Hyperphantasia, Dyslexia

Occupation:

YouTuber

Social Media Personality

Graphic Designer

Author

Actress

Photographer

Commentator

Podcast Host

Activist

Love Interest(s):

Eli Kawase (current boyfriend/fiance)

Olympia Sheryl Spanierman (ex-girlfriend)

Anthony Rodriguez (ex-boyfriend)