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newfrontierseries · 4 years

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The Celebrity Cookout: Black Icons + Me (Part 1)

In 1962, a fresh faced, 38-year-old James Baldwin penned an essay titled “The Creative Process” (read it here!) in which he laid out, in no uncertain terms, his views on the responsibility of the artist, a group of individuals he described as “historically despised while living and acclaimed when safely dead.”

Baldwin writes:

The precise role of the artist…is to illuminate that darkness, blaze roads through that vast forest, so that we will not, in all our doing, lose sight of its purpose, which is, after all, to make the world a more human dwelling place.

Indeed, artists have historically served as a guiding light in the darkness, an anchor in stormy seas, a phone charger when your battery is at 1%. Artists create, and in that act of creation, help us to make sense of the world around us and maybe, just maybe, not feel so alone.

And today, in the 21st century, as the world burns (both literally and figuratively) – we have turned these artists into celebrities who we continue to look towards in times of uncertainty and despair. And certainly (and I cannot emphasize enough the true sincerity in my claim here) – it would be foolish to deny the artistry involved in the act of celebrity. It is a beautifully special skill to grab the spotlight, to hold our collective attention, and create iconography.

We’ve been thinking about this a lot during the development process of Michael Jackson and The Devil’s Book – specifically about how Black celebrities inhabit deeply sacred spaces in the lives of Black people. And all of that thinking has led to the genesis of this! A new, multi-part series that I am calling: The Celebrity Cookout: Black Icons + Me. The premise? What would it look like if I asked Black people of all different ages and backgrounds to reflect on the ways in which Black celebrities have impacted their lives by answering three, very simple questions. The result? A beautiful and diverse tapestry illustrating the richness of Black celebrity, iconography, and popular culture.

To kick off this series, I asked some members of our Rough Draft Reading to respond. Learn what playwright Terry and ensemble members Breon, Netta and Donovan had to say. And check back later this week to hear some incredible memories from some incredible Black people all across the country!

Name: Terry Guest

Hometown: Albany, GA

Who is a Black celebrity that has had a major impact on your life? Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

Can you talk a bit about what that impact has been? I remember looking at Whitney Houston when I was a child and thinking “She is the most beautiful person in the world. I hope to look like that one day.”

What is an iconic moment of theirs that has stuck with you (or, as the kids would say, lives in your head, rent free)? Of course the Diane Sawyer interview! That all white suit!

Name: Breon Arzell

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Who is a Black celebrity that has had a major impact on your life? As a child, Eddie Murphy. As an adult, Beyonce.

Can you talk a bit about what that impact has been? Eddie Murphy was a Black character actor; everything I wanted to be. With Beyoncé, it's her work ethic, showmanship, attention to detail, and being a BOSS of all trades.

What is an iconic moment of theirs that has stuck with you (or, as the kids would say, lives in your head, rent free)? Coming to America. (full stop.) Like, WHAT? Who does that?! Surprise album drop. WHAT?! Again, WHO DOES THAT?! And I also appreciate the way she's been able to maintain privacy and craft her brand and image.

Name: Netta Walker

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Who is a Black celebrity that has had a major impact on your life? My favorite Black celebrity is Barack Obama. But the most impactful Black celebrity isn’t just one person, it is The Temptations.

Can you talk a bit about what that impact has been? Every one of The Temptations’ songs has strings attached to my childhood with my father. He loved them so much, and for that they played a major theme in my life. We’d watch Four Brothers reruns all the time so Papa Was A Rolling Stone always brings me back to those days. Him singing My Girl to me before bed, because I was his only girl (and his baby girl at that). Him chasing my mother around singing Aint to Proud to Beg. Ball of Confusion, Just My Imagination, I Wish It Would Rain, I Can’t Get Next To You - every single one of them has a bittersweet memory.

What is an iconic moment of theirs that has stuck with you (or, as the kids would say, lives in your head, rent free)?

“AIN’T NOBODY COMIN TO SEE YOU OTIS”

Name: Donovan Session

Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Who is a Black celebrity that has had a major impact on your life? A Black celebrity that had a stronger impact in my life than realized was Miss J from America’s Next Top Model.

Can you talk a bit about what that impact has been? I grew up watching this androgynous gender-fluid GODDESS teaching these girls how to slay! I didn’t realize how much I was being influenced by their confidence and unapologetic nature throughout my life. They have remained glamorous and graceful for decades to come and they don’t receive the flowers that they deserve.

What is an iconic moment of theirs that has stuck with you (or, as the kids would say, lives in your head, rent free)? An iconic moment of theirs that comes to mind is when the girls had to strut down a runway covered in water and the only person who could do it successfully was Miss J! The girls were GAGGED!!

#MJDB #Michael Jackson and the Devils Book #Terry Guest #Jared Bellot #The Celebrity Cookout #whitney houston #eddie murphy #beyonce #the temptations #miss j

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