#stamped from the beginning

[authorariadneholmes]

"the physics of light showed that Whiteness was 'the chiefest color.' Newton took it up on himself to substantiate Boyle's color law: light is white is standard." - Ibram X Kendi

[filosofablogger]

Honouring Dr. Martin Luther King ...

If he had lived, Martin Luther King would be celebrating his 95th birthday today.  I first wrote this post in 2017 and have repeated it annually on Martin Luther King Day every year since, with some alterations as needed.  Every year, I think I should write a new one, but then I read this one and … it says everything I want to say, so … why re-invent the wheel?  In the past several years, I have…

[mea-cuppa-part-2]

Truth.

[reggieponder]

Christina Lane talks about Black Perspectives slate of movies at the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF)

I got a chance to speak with Christina Lane who programmed the Black Perspectives slate of films for this year’s Chicago International film Festival. Movies like We Grown Now, Rustin, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Bike Vessel, Banal & Adama, American Fiction, and Stamped From The Beginning just to name a few. Reggie Ponder speaks with Christina Lane about Black Perspectives @ CIFF

[constantviewings]

A (Not So) Weekly Wrap-Up

The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

64 years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12.

I read the book at the beginning of the year when I went through my Hunger Games phase again, and this movie is exactly what I thought it would be compared to the book. They obviously had to cut a decent amount in order to turn and 600 page book into a 2 1/2 hour movie, and that doesn't bother me in the slightest; even if it means losing a couple of my favourite scenes. Tom Blythe does a great job for how subtle the performance needed to be and he really shows off in his final scenes. The only real complaints I have are minor nitpicks: there are too many 'wink wink' references to the original trilogy: Snow saying "Is this real?" and the camera hovering on the bow and arrow in the arena; it just came off a little too referency for my taste. I also don't like the aesthetic of the tech, I know it's supposed to tap into how long before the original trilogy this takes place, but you're telling me that somewhere that hoards wealth and advancement like the Capitol hasn't evolved technology that much faster than in the real world; expecially because they're using the Panem equivalent of an smartwatch in the book? Overall, I still really like this movie, and my complaints don't effect my viewing experience that much.

Rating: 4

Stamped From the Beginning

Using innovative animation and expert insights, this documentary based on Ibram X. Kendi's bestseller explores the history of racist ideas in America.

I picked this up on a whim and was pleasently surprised, everything is presented in a really engaging way and I learnt about events I'd never heard of before.

Catering Chirstmas

Molly Frost is hired by Jean Harrison, the director of the Harrison Foundation, to cater this year’s annual Christmas Gala dinner. Things get complicated when Molly falls for Jean’s nephew, Carson, who has no desire to take over the family’s foundation… until his aunt assigns him to the task of making sure the catered dinner goes perfectly.

Would it be the holidays without cheesy romance movies? Off the back of my annual Love, Actually re-watch I had to watch something with a name like Catering Christmas. It's exactly what you think it is, lots of fun and mediocre production value.

Rating: -3

Miss Americana

A raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer, but as a woman harnessing the full power of her voice.

Another documentary to close us out this week. I was a Taylor Swift fan when I was younger and only recently came back because of the Eras Tour. I only sort of followed the events that are covered here, but not closely as it was around the time I fell off the Taylor Swift train (not because of the drama, I just devoted all my time to One Direction back then). It's a well made documentary that makes me want to watch all of her concert movies and fill myself with nostalgia.

[tornwingsfaery]

I watched 'Stamped From The Beginning' last night. It horrified me & profoundly, emotionally shook my head, and made me ashamed by association to be white. Not that I wasn't already aware of white privilege & Black struggle, but literally Oh My God, how deep this awful shit goes! THIS is why I kept having arguments w/ fam on why it's not ok to say "all lives matter". Really an eye-opening film everyone should see, imo.

[awardswatcherik]

2024 Oscar Predictions: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (October)

[authorariadneholmes]

The confines of enslavement were producing Black people who were intellectually, psychologically, culturally, and behaviorally different,

Not inferior.

Ibram X Kendi, Stamped From the Beginning

[correct-hermitcraft-quotes]

Xisuma, going through the portal to Empires: This isn't the nether.

Cleo: It's not the nether, no. Great observational skills, X, as always.

[cherry-treelane]

There's something so poetic about how El is the centre of all the chaos, wanted by the government and military and Mike is her strong calm that doesn't hesitate to get sucked into her storm and stand by her side in the face of any conflict. Like guys. This little boy did not hesitate to protect her and stand off in the face of the government to defend her, going against all the typical patriotic rule-following norms of an American Suburbanite Middle class nuclear family. He comes from pure safe normalcy but doesn't hesitate to run in the other direction heading towards chaos and danger if it means she's there... because he feels safest with her and is driven by the instinct to protect her. 😭🩷 There's something so beautiful and inspiring about someone as hurt and troubled and chaotic as El being loved in such a simple, unconditional way. Mike doesn't see her for the chaos she represents which surrounds her, he sees her for the innocent goodness that she actually is— her calm, gentle demeanour and the warmth it makes him feel. He understands that all the danger that comes with being with her is through no fault of her own, and actively works to help combat all the forces against her. He knows that despite being the centre of the chaos she's not the cause of it, she's the remedy for the effect of it and that is an undeserved, exhausting punishment yet a burden she bears regardless without complaint— a sign of her innate goodness which Mike recognises and loves her for all the more. Even moreso, he works to share that burden with her and criticise it because he sees how innocent and undeserving she is of the responsibility infringed upon her. His willingness to take all of this on is so wholesome and exactly the kind of sweet effort-full love that a character like El deserves, which is so gratifying for the audience to see.

[fisheito]

Dominant yaku works on a stamp card system. He's only allowed to dom for every 6 times he subs

[thetrashpeople]

If there is only one person listening to Suho's 2nd solo mini album Grey Suit that person is ME

[sseanettles]

eddie NDE when he’s on his way to get christopher/just before he leaves that lands him in a coma dream of his own except it’s a nightmare where he’s trapped in his parents’ house in el paso and it’s full horror movie stepford wife You’re Happy Here, Edmundo :))))

But This Is Your Home, Edmundo :))))))

There Is Nowhere To Go, We Are All Here And Happy Together, Now Say Grace, Edmundo :))))